Vaginal pH levels?

Hi all,

A little while ago when I was in full-on detective mode regarding all things vulval, I purchased some little cotton swabs with litmus paper on, to see what was going on with the pH of my vagina (well, a little way in, like 1 inch).

I have no idea if this is relevant to anything, but at no point did the colour of the litmus paper match the colour for what is "normal" on the packet. Apparently the vaginal pH should be between 4 & 4.5. According to the little sticks, I ranged from between 5.5 - 6.5. I know it changes throughout your cycle, but I *never* got any lower than this.

Just wondering if anyone else has attempted something similar as I would be fascinated to know the results. The link to the swabs is thus: http://www.amazon.co.uk/EcoCare-Comfort-Vaginal-Vaginosis-Stick/dp/B003Z2RM24/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1323635507&sr=8-1

Love to you all x

I was also thinking of having my Ph levels checked; I don't know which doctor would do that test. I'm certain that vulvodynia is somewhat caused by a disrupted Ph in the area, and maybe a solution would be to treat that (by diet, cleansing products etc).

I don't know much about the swabs, but it sounds like a good thing to investigate.

Sorry I couldn't be of any help

5.5-6.5 is rather alkaline and should be checked by a doctor to see if the readings are correct. I checked mine a few times and sometimes it would be about 5 which is off. I would have though you would have bacterial vaginosis symptoms at those levels though so if you haven't could be the sticks aren't reliable. I'd ask a nurse or doctor to check it for you.

Hiya, thanks for your replies. Sarah - I did think it seemed quite a way out. I don't have any obviously BV symptoms but I did once have an infection show up when I was having a really bad flare so I'm wondering if I could have it more often than I think. Good idea to get if "officially" checked out. I need to go for a cervical smear (which I'm cacking myself about) so will ask the nurse when I'm in for that.

Thanks again x

Hi, this probably won't help at all but I thought I'd mention it just incase - several products often used to treat Thrush such as BioFem (it's a natural product) are useful for neutralising or rebalancing vaginal PH. They are just little tubes that you insert into the vagina and empty out for about a week.

penfebruary,
could you tell me which bio-fem product specifically you are referring to? There is a gel and then some tubes etc.. I'm thinking of ordering it since you say it helps; how should i look it up exactly?

Thanks

I tried biofem once and it just stung like crazy so I've avoided it since. Thank you for the thought, though. I may give it another go at some point, I'm just sooo cautious about what I put down there! x

Hi I haven't used those particular sticks, but have used others that have been very easy to use.

For the past two years I've been going along my little journey I've had the lovely side affect of the most horrible odour and discharge. It started up after discomfort and bleeding during sex and although it's done away from time to time, it always flares up after sex, after my period and sometimes after masturbation. My symptoms are actually reflective of a vagina that is too acidic. I've taken ecovag (there is a website of the same name) which I had mixed results with. Everything cleared up instantly the first time including the irritation in my vagina. My excitement lasted four days though as I got my period again and after that everything went away. I tried with a second run, but to no effect. Who knows it may work for you though.

I have changed diets though and found that it helps a lot. The odour and discharge have mostly disappeared, although reappeared two days ago, just before my period started.

Oh and I've done all the tests for BV, thrush and everything else -apparently I am clear - although they have not been able to come up with any reason of why I might be experiencing any of the above symptoms

Hi sorry, it is the tubes that I used. You can buy a box at the chemists it is as common as vagisil etc