Influence of Vaginal pH on the Vaginal Microbiome
Women who suffer from Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) often don’t know why they are susceptible to getting them. The problem could be due to vaginal pH, which isn’t something that you may think about. But it can be the most significant factor in susceptibility to more infections.
Bacteria that occur naturally within the vagina have a particular pH level, and when it increases, it can cause problems like yeast and bacteria to grow. It leads to pain, burning, itching, discharge, and foul odors contributing to yeast infections and UTIs.
What is the connection with vaginal pH and the vaginal microbiome?
Bacteria have an acidic environment that helps reduce yeast growth and bacteria, so when the pH level changes, it can allow bad bacteria to grow, and that can create vaginal infections.
Vaginal Microbiome Composition
The composition of the vaginal microbiome can influence the type of health factors contributing to infections. It’s essential to keep vaginal health optimum in its fight against the disease. Studies and research have concluded that microbiota composition is linked to pH levels.
Vaginal pH levels are expected between 3.8 and 4.5, where it’s only mildly acidic. This level can vary depending on things like your age and other health factors. During reproductive years, women tend to stay at around 4.5 pH level, but before menstruation and after menopause, it gets higher than that.
The acidic environment associated with your pH level protects unhealthy bacteria and yeast from multiplying. Things that can cause your pH level in the vagina to become unbalanced and create a place for infections like UTIs include:
Antibiotics - medications work to kill harmful bacteria causing disease. Still, it can also work against the good bacteria to maintain a healthy vaginal pH levels, making them less healthy and prone to infection.
Periods - menstrual blood raises the vaginal pH level. When the blood is absorbed in a tampon or pad and sits there, it increases the pH level and can cause problems.
Unprotected sex - having semen in the vagina encourages bacterial growth, which can change the pH level and cause a UTI or other conditions.
Douches - doctors do not typically advise douching, but roughly 20% of women wash their vagina. The problem is that even though you may believe it’s cleaner, you are actively increasing your pH level and promoting harmful bacteria to grow.
Maintain good hygiene - follow good hygiene, and if you are susceptible to the infections wear clean underwear every day, but do not use harsh products to maintain a healthy vagina.
There is some evidence regarding sugar and UTIs since sugar can contribute to bacteria growth. So it’s possible that your diet could be contributing to your unbalanced vaginal pH level.
Changes in Vaginal pH Levels
Can you tell if you have an unbalanced pH level in your vagina?
There are some signs you can watch for - a high pH level that leads to increased UTIs causes symptoms that include the following:
Vaginal itching burning
Unusual-looking (or colored) vaginal discharge
A fishy or unpleasant odor
Burning or pain when urinating
Don’t wait for these symptoms to subside; call your doctor immediately if you’re experiencing these vaginal pH signs for a diagnosis.
Correcting an Unbalanced Vaginal pH
Suffering from issues with microbiota composition and vaginal pH levels can be treated relatively easily. But it does require a trip to your doctor.PLEASE don’t try to douche because it will worsen the problem(s).
To treat a vaginal infection from pH levels, doctors typically prescribe the following antibiotics in pill or cream form:
These antibiotics work to stop the growth of the harmful bacteria. Even though antibiotics do indeed affect vaginal pH, the overgrowth causing the infection needs to be treated and removed, so the antibiotic is necessary.
Dealing With a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
First, you should understand what it means to get a UTI. Every year, more than 3.6 million people are hospitalized and have to get treated for one, and testing on the urine can determine the type of bacteria to treat it properly to avoid these visits to the emergency department.
UTIs occur when bacteria get into the urethra. It can cause many uncomfortable symptoms, which include the following:
Pain during urination
Burning sensation during urination
Needing or feeling the need to urinate frequently
Blood in your urine
Low back pain
Cramps in abdomen
Sometimes people will confuse a UTI with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) because the symptoms can feel like a UTI, however this infection occurs in the vaginal canal. UTIs do not occur in the vagina, the infection occurs in the kidney, bladder, and urethra.
Most UTIs are treated with antibiotics, and you can supplement treatment with probiotics, which help work with your digestive system and vaginal microbiomes. Taking health supplements for your urinary tract regularly is helpful if you are more prone to UTIs.
If you experience vaginal discomfort or any symptoms related to your urinary tract, it’s always a good idea to talk to your doctor. You may need some testing or an exam for a diagnosis and possible treatment options.
Maintaining a Health Vaginal pH and Microbiota Composition
You can take steps to ensure you don’t create a pH imbalance or tamper with the microbiota composition in the healthy vagina. To keep things healthy and maintain proper hygiene so as not to suffer from an infection, follow some of these steps:
Take a probiotic - probiotics are a mixture of live bacteria or yeast that are good for your body and work to keep you healthy. They help influence immune response. Vaginal microbiota
Don’t use a douche - it’s been mentioned previously, but the douching messes with your vaginal pH levels. If you’re worried about cleanliness or odor, discuss options with an OB-GYN to see what you can do instead.
Use a condom - when having sex, a condom helps to prevent STDs and keeps your vaginal pH and microbiota composition intact.
Regular exams - visiting your doctor regularly allows you to maintain vaginal health.
Your doctor can do testing to check pH levels in your vagina and examine other health factors, including your diet and lifestyle habits, to determine how prone you are to infections.
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