What pH change is observed in bacterial vaginosis?

In bacterial vaginosis, a significant change in the vaginal environment occurs, specifically characterized by an increase in pH. Normally, the vaginal flora is dominated by Lactobacillus species, which help maintain an acidic environment with a pH typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.5. In bacterial vaginosis, there is a reduction in these beneficial Lactobacilli and an overgrowth of other bacterial species, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and various anaerobes.

This shift in the balance of vaginal microbiota leads to a higher, or more alkaline, pH, frequently exceeding 4.5. The increase in pH is clinically relevant because it can contribute to the characteristic symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, such as a fishy odor and abnormal discharge. Understanding this alteration in pH is crucial for both diagnosis and treatment of the condition, as it provides insight into the underlying changes in the vaginal microbiome and helps differentiate bacterial vaginosis from other conditions like vulvovaginal candidiasis.

Given this information, the observed change in pH during bacterial vaginosis is an increase to an alkaline pH.