Vaginal Infection And Sex

by GAIL
(GA.)

Q. Why do I have an infection every time I have sex?

A. This is something that many, many women find and there are several reasons why this happens. Most of them are tied up with the pH of the vagina.

pH is simply a measure of how acidic or alkaline something is. The normal vaginal pH ranges between 3.8 and 4.5 which means the vagina is acidic and this acidity is one of the key things that keeps it healthy.

Sex alters the pH. Something that much fun just had to have a downside!

The average pH of semen ranges from 7.2 to 7.8 so sex without a condom lowers the acidity of the vagina and that makes a woman more prone to infections such as bacterial vaginosis.

It takes several hours after intercourse for the normal acidity to return.

Another reason some women find sex gives them an infection is because quite a number of us are allergic to semen. This will give symptoms very similar to a vaginal infection.

This allergic reaction can extend to things such as the soap your partner uses (or that you use if you wash too vigorously straight after sex) as well as the material a condom is made from.

These allergy responses can really confuse the diagnosis so that you start a course of treatment for yeast infection or BV but it isn't either of those two and you end up making it worse.

My suggestion is to be very sure you know which infection you have and treat accordingly and if your partner is not wearing a condom, try that to see if it helps.

Interestingly, blood has a pH range of from 7.34 to 7.45 and that is why menstruation can appear to cause infection. Once again, it is because that protective vaginal acidity has been knocked out of whack for a few hours and opportunistic bacteria gain a foothold.