The reproductive system of the female body is one of the most amazing creations of nature. Only thanks to the female genital organs, humanity has the opportunity to exist on this planet. Nature made sure that such an important system of the female body was properly protected, in the form of physiological barriers that prevent the penetration of an infectious agent into the genitals and the development of a pathological process in them. One of these "protectors" of women is the acidic environment of the vagina. It is the determination of the acidity of the vagina in the near future that can become an everyday method that helps women identify their problem as early as possible. How this is possible - read on.

What ensures the acidity of the vagina

Vaginal secretion, which is where acidity is measured, is not actually produced in the vagina. This internal female genital organ has no glands, and the liquid vaginal secretion is formed due to the extravasation of fluid from the vessels of the vaginal mucosa. The acidity of the vagina is provided by the lactic acid contained in the vaginal secretion, which is produced by lactobacilli that live in large numbers in the vagina. Provided that lactic acid is present in the vagina at a concentration of at least 0.5%, the reproductive organs will be able to independently cope with infectious agents penetrating the reproductive organs of a woman.

opredelenie-kislotnosti-vlagalishcha-prostoj-test-na-infektsiyu

What can determine the degree of purity of the vagina

The vagina of a healthy woman produces from 0.76 to 4.5 ml of vaginal secretion per day. At the same time, up to 88% of its components are lactobacilli. The remaining 12% is occupied by microbial cells, aerobes and anaerobes. Depending on the ratio of the components of the vaginal secret, it is customary to distinguish 4 degrees of purity of the vagina:

  1. First degree: a large number of lactobacilli (Dederlein sticks), a moderate number of leukocytes and epithelial cells are found in the vaginal secretion, there is no pathological microflora.
  2. Second degree: a large number of both lactobacilli and epithelial cells are detected, while single leukocytes and representatives of the pathological flora are detected.
  3. Third degree: there are few Dederlein sticks in the vaginal secretion, a large number of leukocytes and a moderate number of representatives of the pathological flora are detected.
  4. Fourth degree: lactobacilli are completely absent in the vaginal secretion, there is a lot of pathological flora and a moderate amount of epithelial cells.

Vaginal Acidity Test Strips: Why You Need Them

The amount of lactobacilli contained in the vagina directly reflects the acidity of the vaginal secretion. And it is by the value of the pH of the vagina that one can judge whether the pathological process develops in the reproductive organs of a woman. It was for the purpose of early confirmation of the infectious process that special test strips were developed to determine the acidity of the vagina. Such a test strip can be purchased at a pharmacy and used when unpleasant symptoms appear, such as itching and redness of the vulva, changes in the color and smell of vaginal discharge, and even just after unprotected intercourse. With the help of test strips, each woman can independently suspect a possible infectious process in her early stages,

What different indicators of vaginal acidity can indicate

The procedure for determining vaginal acidity is as follows: a small amount of vaginal secretion is applied to the test strip and waited for several minutes. The color of the strip changes: the darker the color of the strip becomes, the higher the acidity of the vagina will be. You can find out the exact pH level using a special scale described in the instructions for the test strip. What can different indicators of vaginal acidity indicate?

Normal values ​​for vaginal acidity:

    in adolescence: pH = 4.92-5.0
  • at reproductive age: pH= 4.6-5.23
  • during pregnancy: pH= 4.58-5.26
  • after childbirth: pH= 4.77-5.57
  • premenopausal: pH= 4.61-5.37
The following indicators of vaginal acidity will indicate a particular vaginal infection:

    for cytolytic vaginosis: pH less than 4.0
  • for candidal vaginitis: pH= 4.0 - 4.5
  • with trichomonas colpitis: pH= 5.3 - 6.0
  • for bacterial vaginosis: pH greater than 4.5
  • for atrophic vaginitis: pH greater than 6.0
  • for aerobic vaginitis: pH greater than 6.5
Thus, test strips for determining the acidity of the vagina can become a faithful assistant to every woman who cares about her health. But it is important to remember that determining the pH of the vagina is only one of the simplest methods for diagnosing the infectious process of the genital organs. Only a qualified specialist can establish a reliable diagnosis and choose the most effective treatment regimen.

Add a comment

captcha

RefreshRefresh