What You Need to Know About Vaginal pH Soap Bars

If you've seen vaginal pH soap bars popping up along your social media feed, you may be wondering about their safety. We turned to experts to learn more.

Medically reviewed by Alyssa Dweck, MS, MD, FACOG

Numerous people rely on feminine hygiene products every day as part of their daily cleansing routines. This is not surprising; one study even found that nearly two-thirds, or 65%, of people polled have felt insecure about their vaginal scent. But some products designed to treat odors—particularly those that are used internally—may disrupt the normal pH level of the vagina. This can be concerning since maintaining a healthy vagina requires a consistent pH.

For this reason, you may be wondering if those trendy vaginal pH soap bars featured on TikTok are safe to use, or if they are just another product that will disrupt the normal microbiome of your vagina. Interestingly, the OB-GYNs that we spoke to said that most vaginal pH soap bars are safe to use—as long as they are used to clean the vulva and not used internally on the vagina.

“Vaginal pH soap bars are feminine hygiene products aimed at maintaining a healthy environment of the vulva—the skin, hair, and area near but outside the vagina,” says Kyle Graham, MD, a board-certified OB-GYN at Pediatrix Medical Group in San Jose, California. “Maintaining a healthy pH can prevent pain, itching, and malodor. Although they are called vaginal soap bars, they are not meant to be placed into the vagina and instead used on the area outside the vagina.”

Related: Everything to Know About Leukorrhea—AKA Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

What Is Vaginal pH?

The term pH is used to describe something that is acidic, neutral, or basic, Dr. Graham says, and certain parts of your body can have an acidic pH like your stomach or vagina. “Organs like the stomach and vagina can become unhealthy if their pH is out of balance.”

Maintaining your vagina’s normal pH, which is between 3.8 and 4.5 (though can approach 5 during menopause), is important to its overall health and helps prevent symptoms like burning, itching, and even painful intercourse. This acidic pH is what helps protect your vaginal surface from pathogens or infections, says Stuart Jones, MD, FACOG, an OB-GYN and attending physician at Avina Women’s Care, a private practice within OhioHealth.

There are certain things that can throw off or destabilize the pH, he says. “[Your] vagina remains healthy by maintaining normal levels of lactobacilli, but an increase in pH results in a lowering of lactobacilli levels and this may lead to bacterial vaginosis (BV) which can cause irritation, and the characteristic fishy odor after intercourse.”

He notes that sexually active people are more prone to BV because sperm increases the pH in the vagina—not because their partner is transmitting BV. “Antibiotics will also [impact] lactobacilli levels and shift to an overgrowth of yeast, symptoms of irritation, and itching along with a thicker cottage cheese-like discharge.”

When it comes to vaginal complaints, BV accounts for 40% to 50% of issues involving vaginal discharge, odor, irritation, itching, or burning while yeast infections account for 20% to 25% of cases. Meanwhile, trichomoniasis (a common STD) represents 15% to 20% of cases.

Related: Everything to Know About Vaginal Infections During Pregnancy

Are Vaginal pH Soap Bars Safe to Use?

Generally, vaginal pH soap bars are safe to use, but the best wash is water, Dr. Jones says. He also advises that if someone feels fresher with soap, to consider using an unscented, mild, hypoallergenic soap such as Dove Sensitive Unscented Soap. But it's important to note that your hygiene routine is a matter of personal preference.

However, keep in mind that cleaning internally, within the vaginal canal, can throw off the normal healthy environment and is generally frowned upon by medical professionals. If you do opt for vaginal pH soap bars, select one that is unscented and be sure to read the ingredients list, especially if you have sensitive skin or allergies to certain ingredients.

You also may want to patch test the soap first before lathering up the vulva. Doing so can ensure your skin can tolerate the vaginal pH soap bar’s formulation.

Things to Be Mindful of When Using Vaginal pH Soap Bars

When using vaginal pH soap bars, it is important to distinguish between your vulva and your vagina. In simple terms, the vulva is the part of your genitals that are located on the outside of your body while the vagina is the closed muscular canal that is on the inside of your body and connects to your cervix, the entrance to the uterus.

Your vulva is the first line of defense in protecting your genital tract from infection. Things that could cause infection typically collect in the folds of this area. What’s more, increased moisture, sweating, and hormonal changes can potentially result in odor or infection. For this reason, keeping your vulvar area clean helps to protect the rest of your genital tract, including your vagina.

In general, it is safe to use gentle cleansers, including vaginal pH soap bars, on the vulvar area. But, you should avoid inserting these cleansing agents into the vagina.

“When using vaginal pH soap bars, you'll want to choose a product that is unscented and with ingredients that are hypoallergenic and nontoxic,” says Dr. Graham. “You'll also want to avoid anything with antibiotics.”

Likewise, some vaginal pH soap bars have lactobacillus. Avoid soaps with this ingredient, especially since this bacteria already inhabits the vaginal normally, Dr. Graham says.

Products to Avoid Using in the Vaginal Area

Typically, vaginal pH is self-regulatory, meaning there are special mechanisms in the vagina that keep the pH stable. However, there are certain things that can throw off or destabilize the pH like using products internally, or douching.

“You'll want to avoid most scented products and [refrain from] applying powders or products with antibiotics in them unless prescribed by a doctor,” Dr. Graham says.

Meanwhile, you can promote normal vaginal flora by using oral probiotics and eating certain foods such as bananas, grapefruit, and oranges, which can help normalize pH levels, says Dr. Jones. Additionally, limiting alcohol and simple sugars also can help keep your vaginal flora at a normal level. Using condoms also can help keep your vaginal flora in balance.

"But the best way to maintain healthy hygiene is to not introduce cleaning agents into the vagina—basically less is better," he says.

When to Contact a Health Care Provider

Contact a health care provider if you notice persistent odor, itching, or vaginal pain, Dr. Graham says. Any change in vaginal discharge also warrants a prompt visit to a physician. And, it’s important to see a health care provider if you experience dryness or pain during intercourse.

It’s also important not to try to self-diagnose your condition. “Determining what type of infection you have—yeast versus bacterial or even an STD—is one of the most self misdiagnoses out there,” Dr. Jones says.

Related: 7 Unexpected Ways Your Vagina Changes During Pregnancy

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