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Vaginal pH

Indications
1. Vaginitis Evaluation
Technique
1. Standard pH paper is too broad (not useful)
2. Use special vaginal pH paper (made by 3M)
  1. Vaginal pH paper 4.3 to 4.9
Normal Vaginal pH
1. Acidic pH: 3.8 to 4.5
Increased Vaginal pH Causes (pH >4.5)
1. Non-infectious Causes
  1. Menses
  2. Cervical Mucus increased (e.g. Ovulation)
  3. Semen in vagina following intercourse
  4. Rupture of Membranes in pregnancy
  5. Estrogen deficiency (Hypoestrogenism)
2. Infectious Causes
  1. Trichomoniasis
  2. Bacterial Vaginosis
  3. Infection associated with Retained Foreign Body
3. Rare Infectious Causes
  1. Group A Streptococcal Vaginitis
  2. Inflammatory Vaginitis with Desquamation
References
1. Nyirjesy (2001) Am Fam Physician 63(4):697

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This page was written by Scott Moses, MD. This page was last revised before 5/10/08, prior to consistent tracking of revision date. This page was last published on 5/10/2008. Please send comments and questions to the editor. Contact information may be found on the page About the Family Practice Notebook. These pages are best viewed with Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0.