How do you do this test? You hold a piece of pH paper against the wall of your vagina for a few seconds, then compare the color of the pH paper to the color on the chart provided with the test kit. The number on the chart for the color that best matches the color on the pH paper is the vaginal pH number.
Keeping this in consideration, can BV go away on its own?
Bacterial vaginosis often clears up on its own. But in some women it doesn’t go away on its own. And for many women it comes back after it has cleared up. Antibiotic treatment works for some women but not others.
One may also ask, can pH strips detect BV?
Presence of clue cells and positive whiff test were significant for BV. Vaginal pH >4.5 by pH strips and pH Glove had a sensitivity of 72 and 79 per cent and specificity of 60 and 53 per cent, respectively to detect BV.
Do feminine pH strips work?
How can I balance my vaginal pH at home?
Natural remedies to restore balance
- Avoiding harsh soaps and douching. Soaps typically have a high pH, and using them to clean the vaginal area may increase vaginal pH. …
- Taking a probiotic supplement or suppository. …
- Changing tampons regularly. …
- Using barrier protection during sex.
How do you use pH test strips on your vagina?
Cut a piece of the ph strip from the roll. While laying down hold the strip and insert into your vagina so that the paper comes in contact with the vaginal wall. Hold for 5 seconds. Remove the strip and wait for 30 seconds, be careful not to touch the paper.
What can throw off your pH balance?
There are many things that may contribute to a pH imbalance, including:
- Douching.
- Unprotected sex.
- Menstruation.
- Antibiotics.
- Clothing.
- Hygiene.
- Menopause.
- UTIs.
What happens when your feminine pH balance is off?
If vaginal pH is off-balance, it can lead to bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and/or UTIs. Research has indicated that vaginal health and bladder health are interconnected, meaning if vaginal health is compromised it can negatively impact urinary tract health.
What is a whiff test?
The whiff test is a test for the fishy odor that occurs in bacterial vaginosis (previously called Gardnerella vaginitis and nonspecific vaginitis). A drop of KOH is mixed with some vaginal discharge. A positive test is abnormal and consists of a characteristic fishy odor.
What pH level is bacterial vaginosis?
From previous studies, a vaginal fluid pH value of 4–4.5 or less signifies the absence of vaginitis, whereas a pH value of more than 4.5 denotes vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis (BV) [11].