Am obsessed with baths and have been all my life. Taking a bath before bed is my way of relaxing at the end of a hectic day and sometimes very stressful: during the day and is my secret trick to getting the best sleep possible at night. But while baths are known for their ability to improve sleep, improve mental health, promote circulation, and boost immunity, I recently learned that they can also wreak havoc on vaginal health due to their impact on pH levels.
Baths and pH Balance
When it comes to baths and pH balance, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that Dr. Angela Wilson, an OB-GYN at Montefiore Advanced Care, says that soaking in hot water alone shouldn’t cause changes in vaginal pH levels. However, that may change depending on the type of water in your area. “The minerals in hard water tend to cause a higher pH level of the water, which could disrupt the naturally acidic environment of the vagina,” explains Dr. Wilson.
If you live in a city with hard water, like my hometown of Los Angeles, Dr. Wilson says adding a filter to your bathtub can reduce minerals and therefore lower the pH of the water. But, while it’s something worth considering if you experience regular infections, she says filters haven’t specifically been a proven way to prevent vaginal pH imbalance.
Hard water is not the only thing to think about when bathing. Dr. Wilson says the products we add to our baths can also wreak havoc on our vaginal health. “Many soaps, oils, and bath bombs have higher pH levels, and if placed in the vagina while in the bath, they can cause a disruption and increase in vaginal pH,” he explains. This doesn’t mean you have to give up relaxing baths completely. “Mild soaps and products without perfume or dyes are best,” says Dr. Wilson. However, he recommends avoiding soap inside the vagina and always rinsing thoroughly to remove any soap residue after soaking.
Do baths contribute to yeast infections?
In general, vaginal pH levels range between 3.8 to 4.2 and can change depending on several factors, including the phases of your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, age, and more. While it is normal to experience a slight change, vaginal pH imbalance can lead to health problems, including yeast infections. Therefore, it is important to take precautions, such as filtering the water and choosing gentler products.
That said, it is not fair on how to address these common pH disruptors. Dr. Wilson says that in general, too many baths can also be a cause for concern for some people. “Too much bathing, or bathing for long periods of time, can make one more susceptible to yeast infections in some people by exacerbating the warm, moist environment of the vagina,” he explains.
Can too many baths cause BV?
In some cases, taking too many baths can lead to bacterial vaginosis (BV), also known as a vaginal infection caused by the overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. You can get BV from a vaginal pH imbalance caused by bath products, but you can also get it from water alone. “Hard water, which is high in minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can react with the acids in soaps and form chemicals that can leave residue on the skin,” says Dr. Wilson. “This residue can be deposited inside the vagina when soaked in a bath, causing a bacterial imbalance.”
Yeast infections and BV are two different types of vaginitis (yeast infections are fungal-based and BV is bacteria-based), but they can coexist and be caused by similar things. Like yeast infections, soaking in warm water for prolonged periods can increase the warm, moist environment of the vagina and lead to BV.
Supplements for vaginal health
Taking care of your vaginal health could mean modifying your bathing regimen to include products that don’t alter the pH of the vagina as easily and maybe even soaking them less frequently. But you can also improve your vaginal health through supplements like HUM Nutrition’s Private Party, which was designed specifically with the vaginal microbiome in mind. Formulated with probiotics and cranberry, these capsules improve overall vaginal health by balancing good bacteria, improving odor, and supporting the urinary tract.
To up the ante, we also recommend trying HUM Nutrition’s Hormone Balance, as hormonal imbalances can also change the pH levels of the vagina. Lower estrogen levels are a particular concern as they can disrupt the microbiome and even lead to BV. These hormone-balancing supplements are formulated with dong quai root to promote stable estrogen levels.
Key takeaways FOR clean vaginal health
Taking baths is a great way to relax the body and mind. Baths can even help reduce stress, improve sleep, promote circulation, and relieve pain. But, as much as they can be useful tools for our health, baths also have some negative side effects on vaginal health. Products like salts, soaps (including bubble bath formulas), essential oils, and bath bombs can negatively affect vaginal pH levels, which can lead to concerns like yeast infections and BV. The minerals in hard water can also alter vaginal pH, so it’s also a good idea to add a filter to your faucet or home water system.
That said, Dr. Wilson says it’s not necessary to give up baths completely. “When it comes to vaginal health, warm water is the safest option and can be a good option when it comes to relieving vulvar and vaginal symptoms,” he explains. If you take a dip in the bathtub, be sure to rinse afterward to remove any soap residue that may come into contact with your vagina.
