Can a Lot of Sex Change Your pH Levels and Make That Area Smell "Off"? What Can You Do To Prevent It?

Yes, but that shouldn’t last for more than a day or so.

I need to clarify that my answer is going to focus on the vagina. If the question was about another body part, let me know.

The pH level of the vagina is more on the acidic side. For someone who hasn’t gone through menopause, it’s usually in the 3.8 – 4.5 range. If you have gone through menopause, it may be a bit higher.

If you’re having sex with no condom and he comes inside you, then that can throw off the smell. Semen is more alkaline, somewhere in the 7 – 8 range. So semen can impact your pH for a bit and make things smell “off.”

Anything else that goes in the vagina during sex play, like lube or sex toys, can also temporarily throw off the pH of the vagina. So can condoms.

But the key word here is temporarily. Like a day or so.

If you notice a change lasting many days, then you might want to talk to your health care provider. If the smell lasts many days, and there is a discharge that’s different than normal, and there is a strong fishy odor, then there’s a good chance that it might be Bacterial Vaginosis.

Bacterial Vaginosis, also called BV, can lead to that strong odor.

BV can be treated with antibiotics, either by pill or by cream. Be warned that the creams can weaken latex, so if you’re having vaginal sex during treatment and don’t want to risk pregnancy or an STI, then you should use something other than a latex condom.

Although, vaginal sex during treatment isn’t really recommended. But sex play that doesn’t involve your vagina is fair game. So you can do whatever you want with whatever other parts of the body you want.

When we say no sex during treatment, it’s actually more than just during treatment. It should be during treatment, which is usually 5-7 days, and then at least 7 days after. And speaking of length of treatment, don’t stop taking the antibiotics just because the symptoms go away! Take them until you’ve got no more left to take.

Let’s assume it’s not BV, that it’s just something that happens when you have sex but it’s not an infection. There are some things you can do to help keep the “off” smell away.

Don’t douche! I know that some people swear by this, but douching is really not good for the vagina. It throws off the normal pH levels. It can also increase the chances of things like BV and yeast infections.

You also want to wear breathable underwear. This can help reduce moisture and maintain a healthy pH. If you hear “breathable” and think “cotton” you’re right. But the entire underwear doesn’t have to be breathable for vaginal health, just the crotch area.

But please keep in mind that the vagina should have a smell!

Until next time, be safe, and have fun!

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