Your period isn’t just a monthly nuisance. It can also throw off your vaginal pH balance and trigger longer-term problems.
“Many women who suffer from recurrent infections find that their period is often the event that sets them in motion,” says Dr. Machelle Seibel, a leading expert in women’s health and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Massachusetts.
“During your period, it is best to use the lowest absorbency tampon possible, altering the absorbency as the period flow fluctuates.
“It is also a good idea to change the tampon at least every four to eight hours to keep the pH balanced.”
In healthy women, vaginal pH is typically 3.5 to 4.5 which is acidic enough to create a hostile environment for unwanted bateria.
But blood has a pH of 7.4, so during your period pH becomes elevated by menstrual fluids.
Tampons contribute to the elevated pH as they retain the fluids that cause pH to increase.
If your vaginal pH is out of whack, you may experience odor, irritation or infection. Other things that can elevate pH are sex, douching and fancy soaps.
Seibel suggests avoiding feminine products containing deodorants and scented soaps.
