Iron, Zinc, and manganese are all important minerals for a healthy vaginal pH.įoods high in probiotics may be helpful as well. Eating an abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are optimal for vaginal health. Your diet can also affect the health of your vagina. This can also change the smell of your vagina. While antibiotics are meant to kill bad bacteria, they can also kill off beneficial bacteria. This can be an issue with frequent antibiotic use. For example, sperm is more basic (alkaline) so unprotected sex can change the pH of vaginas (another reason to use protection!).Īntibiotics are another common reason for changes in pH. Various factors can increase or decrease the pH. The pH balance of your vagina may be offĪ healthy vagina will have an acidic pH between 3.8 and 4.5 (which does vary based on age). This means using lubricants that are water- or silicone-based as opposed to condoms that are oil-based.Ģ. It is important to use condom-friendly lubricants to avoiding a broken condom. There is absolutely no shame in requiring a lubricant for sex and the sooner we normalize this, the more comfortable and satisfying sex we will all have.Ī study published in 2013 surveyed 2451 women and found a positive relationship between lubricant use and better sex. Lubricants can be helpful if dryness is the issue. To increase omega-3s in your diet, try eating foods such as avocado, flaxseed, chia seeds, hemp seeds, walnuts, Brussels sprouts, or supplementing with omega-3. Omega-3s also increase circulation and blood flow, which improves sexual functioning. Note: In Western Blot analysis, Omega-3 fatty acid composition in diet did not affect expression of ezrin and merlin in rat vagina estrogen presented significant impact on expression of ezrin and merlin. Other factors that may decrease estrogen include premature ovarian failure, thyroid disorders, pituitary gland dysfunction, chemotherapy, and excessive exercise.Ī research in the Journal of Menopausal Medicine says that a diet that is high in omega-3 fatty acids may increase vaginal lubrication. A decrease in estrogen (like which occurs naturally during menopause) can result in vaginal dryness. Estrogen is a hormone that provides the vaginal lining with lubrication.