What Is a Vaginal pH Test and How to Use It

A vaginal pH test measures how acidic or alkaline your vagina. Your vaginal pH is a key indicator of overall vaginal health and can tell you if you’re in dysbiosis (the medical term for an imbalanced microbiome). Keep scrolling to learn how to check vaginal pH at home, how vaginal pH tests differ from a vaginal microbiome test, and — more importantly — whether you should bother taking one. 

What is a vaginal pH test?

A vaginal pH test is a simple at-home or in-clinic test that measures the acidity level of your vaginal environment. 

The pH scale measures the acidity or alkalinity of a water-based solution, including within the human body. It ranges from zero to 14, with seven being neutral. Anything below seven is acidic (like vinegar or lemon juice), while anything above seven is alkaline or basic (for example, bleach or ammonia).

The vagina is normally slightly acidic, with a healthy pH ranging from about 3.8 to 4.5. This acidic environment helps protect against infections by supporting the growth of good bacteria, like Lactobacillus, and preventing harmful microbes from thriving. 

Any shift in your microbiome's normal balance can alter your pH. While the bacteria in your vagina work overtime to keep your pH balanced, there are plenty of things that can throw a spanner in the works, such as:

• Your period: Menstrual blood is slightly alkaline, which can temporarily elevate your pH and put you at a higher risk of developing a vaginal yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis (BV). 
• Unprotected sex: Semen has a high pH, which can raise the risk of infection. Sex can also introduce bad bacteria or other pathogens that mess with your natural balance.
• Douching: Using a vaginal douche can wash away protective bacteria and mess up your pH. Remember, your vagina cleans itself!
• Menopause: Lower levels of the hormone estrogen in menopause can alter your vaginal pH levels and make vaginal infections more likely. 
• Antibiotics: Although they get rid of harmful bacteria, they can also kill off the good bacteria that help keep your vagina acidic.

A vaginal pH test involves applying a small amount of vaginal fluid to a pH test strip — similar to litmus paper — which changes color based on the pH level. You compare the color to a reference chart to determine the result.

You might consider using a vaginal pH test if you're experiencing unusual symptoms like discharge, odor, vaginal itching, or discomfort and want to get a general sense of whether your vaginal environment is imbalanced. It’s also sometimes used by people who are prone to recurrent vaginal infections to monitor shifts in vaginal health. However, it’s not a diagnostic tool on its own. If your pH is high (above 4.5), that could suggest bacterial vaginosis or another infection, but only a healthcare provider or microbiome test can confirm what’s really going on.

When to test your vaginal pH

There are a few key signs that your vaginal pH is off. If you notice any of the following signs, it could be helpful to take a pH test:

• Unpleasant odor: While it's normal for your vagina and discharge to have a mild odor, any sudden or noticeable changes in vaginal odor could indicate a pH imbalance. Foul, rotten, or fishy-smelling discharge can be a symptom of bacterial vaginosis or a sexually transmitted infection like trichomoniasis. 
• Unusual vaginal discharge: Any changes in the color, consistency, smell, and quantity of vaginal discharge could mean your vaginal pH is off. Grey, watery discharge that has a fishy smell could be a sign of BV or trichomoniasis, while white, thick, and clumpy discharge could be a sign of a yeast infection or chlamydia. See your healthcare provider if you're experiencing unusual vaginal discharge.
• Itching or discomfort: If you're feeling itchy, irritated, or red around the vagina and vulva, it might be a sign of a pH imbalance. This could be due to a vaginal yeast infection or chlamydia.
• Burning sensation: Feeling a burning sensation when you pee or have sex could mean your pH level is off. This discomfort could be due to a yeast infection or sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. 

How to test vaginal pH at home

You can easily find an over-the-counter vaginal pH test kit at your local pharmacy or drugstore, and they're really simple to use. Different brands may have slight variations, but typically, each kit includes a cotton swab, pH test paper, and a chart to help you understand the results. Here’s how to use one:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly before opening the kit.
2. Gently insert the swab about 1 to 2 inches into your vagina (similar to inserting a tampon). Gently rotate it for a few seconds to collect a sample of vaginal fluid.
3. Remove the swab and immediately press it against the test strip area on the included pH paper.
4. Wait a few seconds as the test strip changes color.
5. Compare the color on the test strip to the chart provided in the kit. This will give you a pH reading, usually between 3.8 and 6.0. If you're color-blind, it's best to have someone help you read the results. 

Keep in mind: Vaginal pH is only an approximation of the amount of lactic acid produced in the vagina, so a vaginal pH test is more like a health metric rather than a diagnostic tool. A pH test can’t confirm what type of infection (if any) you have. It’s best used as a helpful guide — but if your results are abnormal or symptoms persist, you should follow up with a healthcare provider or consider a vaginal microbiome test for more detailed insights.

Interpreting your pH test results

Once you’ve completed your vaginal pH test and matched the strip to the color chart, you’ll get a number that reflects how acidic or alkaline your vaginal environment is. A normal vaginal pH falls between 3.8 and 4.5, which is slightly acidic and supports the growth of protective Lactobacillus bacteria. Depending on the test results, you may need to see your healthcare provider for further diagnosis and treatment of a vaginal infection.

If your result is above 4.5, it may indicate a potential vaginal infection. This often happens with bacterial vaginosis or trichomoniasis, both of which can raise vaginal pH. If your pH is high and you’re also noticing symptoms like unusual discharge, a strong or fishy odor, itching, or discomfort, it’s a good idea to reach out to a healthcare provider for further testing.

On its own, a pH test can’t diagnose an infection, but it’s a useful clue that something might be off. If symptoms persist despite a “normal” result, you may still need more advanced testing, like a vaginal microbiome analysis.

Vaginal pH test vs vaginal microbiome test

Another type of at-home vaginal test is a vaginal microbiome test, which detects levels of certain bacteria and other microbes present in your vagina. 

The vaginal microbiome is the complex ecosystem of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that live inside the vagina (aka the vaginal microbiota or vaginal flora). Everyone’s vaginal microbiome is unique, but research suggests that a “healthy” microbiome is one dominated by Lactobacillus. 

Lactobacilli protect you from infections by producing lactic acid and keeping your vaginal pH acidic. So your vaginal pH will change based on the bacterial makeup of your microbiome. That’s why an elevated pH can indicate a vaginal infection like BV. 

So what’s the difference between a vaginal pH test and a vaginal microbiome test? A pH test can't reveal which bacteria are present in your vaginal microbiome nor their levels. A vaginal microbiome test, on the other hand, can. 

There are different types of vaginal microbiome tests out there, and how comprehensive and accurate a test is depends mainly on the sequencing technology used (aka, how they analyze the results). But for the most part, all vaginal microbiome tests can give you an insight into what bacteria and fungi are present in your vagina. Evvy’s Vaginal Health Test uncovers over 700 bacteria and fungi, including those missed by traditional testing. That way, you can get a high-fidelity breakdown of your microbiome and get to the bottom of any unusual vaginal symptoms you might be experiencing, like itching, odor, and discharge. 

Although vaginal pH tests are nowhere near as comprehensive as vaginal microbiome tests, they’re a lot more accessible and usually stocked in most drugstores — they can be a helpful starting point if you’re in a pinch. For example, you start noticing some unusual vaginal symptoms and want to know ASAP if something’s off down there. They can offer some peace of mind, or, on the flip side, confirmation that you should schedule that OBGYN check-up. But other than telling you whether your pH is out of whack, they’re not particularly useful. 

FAQ

What is the normal vaginal pH?

A healthy vagina typically has a pH level between 3.8 and 4.5 (on a scale from one to 14). A pH higher than 4.5 is usually a sign of an imbalanced microbiome and is often a symptom of a vaginal infection like bacterial vaginosis. Vaginal pH tests can show if your vagina is acidic enough to fight off bacteria and reduce the risk of infection. 

How do I know if my pH balance is off?

You might suspect your vaginal pH balance is off if you’re experiencing symptoms like unusual discharge, a strong or fishy odor, itching, burning, or discomfort during sex or when you pee. These signs can indicate that the normally acidic environment of your vagina has become more alkaline, which makes it easier for harmful bacteria to grow. Sometimes these symptoms are subtle, while other times they’re hard to ignore. If anything feels different than usual, especially if symptoms persist or keep coming back, it’s a good idea to use a pH test or check in with your doctor for a more thorough assessment. 

What pH is a yeast infection?

Healthy vaginal pH levels range anywhere between 3.8 and 4.5. When you have a vaginal yeast infection (also known as vaginal candidiasis), the vaginal pH is around 4.0 to 4.7 but it usually sits at around 4.5. That means you might take a vaginal pH test and think you're in the clear because your pH isn't too elevated. A vaginal pH test isn't comprehensive enough to tell you whether you have a yeast infection, so if you notice any unusual discharge, itching, or a burning sensation, you should see your doctor.

How can I test my pH level at home? 

Vaginal pH tests are pretty accessible, and you can find them in most drugstores or pharmacies. Each test comes with a vaginal swab, pH test paper, and a chart to help you understand the results. To test your pH at home, use the swab to collect a sample of your vaginal fluid, then wipe it on the pH paper. The color of the paper should start changing immediately. 

What does a vaginal swab test for?

A vaginal swab tests for specific bacteria or fungi present in your microbiome. There are different technologies used to analyze the vaginal microbiome, and the type of technology will directly affect how comprehensive (how many species it can test for) and accurate (the levels of those species) the test will be. This is because the technology determines how many bacteria and fungi you can look for at one time, and which kinds of bacteria or fungi you can accurately test for. Evvy’s Vaginal Health Test can test for over 700 bacteria and fungi, including those missed by traditional testing.