Ladies: is everything okay down south?

A Woman's pH

pH balance is not just from the acid and base titration lectures most of us took in secondary school. The acronym pH actually refers to the body's Potential for Hydrogen, which measures the hydrogen ions that are in the body. . The body's pH is determined by a scale that ranges from 0 to 14; a pH lower than 7 is acidic and a pH higher than 7 is considered basic.

Generally the vaginal PH should be acidic, so you want it lower than a 5. If a woman's pH is high, she most likely has a bacterial infection and needs to see her doctor. if her pH is low, thats indicative of a yeast infection.


Here are some TIPS on keeping you privates healthy.

* use a light non-fragranced soap with warm warm water

* Dont Douch : use water and vinegar instead if you must

* Keep wearing of thongs to the minimal. the thong sits right on your butt. thats like a highway for bacteria. Thongs get so close and tight on your skin that it's almost impossible for the area to breathe (breeding ground for bacterial growth). It's fine to wear thongs once in a while when you have an outfit that requires them. generally, cotton underwear is better.

* wipe from the front to back when you go to the bathroom. that way you dont get bacteria from your butt where you dont want it as that is a MAJOR cause of infection.

* go to bed without underwear. the african weather is hot and humid most times.It helps if your V gets some fresh air every now and then.

Do you Have Bacterial Vaginosis?

When bacterial vaginosis infects a woman, a number of symptoms will manifest themselves. One of the most apparent symptoms of this condition is a fishy smell, an intense odor that is associated with the disease. Since the intensity of this odor is overwhelming, it is likely to affect the woman concerned emotionally as the condition will lower her self-esteem.

But it should be understood by the affected woman that the odor is not necessarily due to bad hygiene, although that is one of the causes for bacterial vaginosis to manifest itself, but rather it is the infection which is causing the bad smell.


As mentioned earlier, this smell can cause serious psychological problems to the woman concerned. Because of the bad smell she may suffer from depression and would refuse to socialize with people. At such times we have to reassure the concerned woman that hers is not an isolated case, as many women suffer from this condition. This is a common symptom with a huge number of women suffering from it annually.

The other symptoms of this condition include itching and a burning sensation in the vaginal and vulva region of the affected woman. Though the burning sensation and itching in themselves do not necessarily indicate the vaginosis, these are usually associated with the condition. Sometimes a detailed medical study may be required to arrive at the conclusion that she is suffering from this condition, though when the horrible smell is present along with itching and burning sensation, it is highly indicative of the infection