The Unspoken Truth
About Vaginal Health

Thousands of products are currently available which claim to protect vaginal health & well-being. While products such as probiotics are important, they do not address a common factor which disrupts a healthy vagina: semen.

Livi absorbs semen after sex. Read below to learn why this idea is revolutionary.

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Vaginal Wellness: Striking the Right pH Balance

Each time you have sex without a condom, your vaginal wellness is at risk. Here’s why:

Semen can remain in your vagina for hours, even days after sex. And because semen is alkaline – having a pH of 8 – and the vagina is acidic – with a pH of 4 – extended dwelling time of semen in your vaginal canal can make changes to your vaginal pH balance. These changes will ultimately disrupt your vaginal microbiome, which is the microscopic environment of good bacteria which keep the vagina healthy.

Studies have also shown that the longer semen stays in the vagina, the more likely you are to experience: vaginal odor, vaginal dripping, and even chronic vaginal infections like Bacterial Vaginosis. Clinical research conducted by LiviWell’s team of scientists has confirmed that as many as 35% of women experience continued dripping of sexual fluids, vaginal odor and discharge long after the moment of intimacy has passed.

The Vaginal Microbiome

The vaginal microbiome is the complex ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and more that lives inside the vagina. A low (acidic) vaginal pH is essential to maintaining a healthy microbiome. Over 30% of people with vaginas have an imbalanced vaginal microbiome, which can manifest as bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, recurrent UTIs, and more.

Some women won’t know that their vaginal microbiome is out of balance. While others may experience mild to severe symptoms that impact their vaginal health and mental wellness. These can include:

  • Vaginal odor
  • Vaginal itching
  • Discharge and dripping
  • Painful sex
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The Basics of BV

Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal infection caused by the overgrowth of bad bacteria in your vaginal microbiome.

A healthy vaginal microbiome is made up mostly of healthy bacteria such as lactobacilli, a lactic-acid-producing bacteria that fight pathogens and keep infections away.

When lactobacilli dominance is disrupted, your vaginal pH can go up, allowing other types of bacteria to grow and cause an imbalance (known in medicine as dysbiosis). This causes symptoms like discomfort, itching, and unusual vaginal discharge. ‍

If you’re dealing with bacterial vaginosis, you’re far from alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal condition in women ages 15-44. and almost 30% of people with vaginas get bacterial vaginosis each year.

Bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and you can develop it without ever having sex. Because bacterial vaginosis is broadly defined as an imbalance in your vaginal microbiome, you can’t “get” bacterial vaginosis from having sex with someone. That said, sex itself (or really putting anything in your vagina) can introduce new bacteria and/or change the vaginal pH, allowing opportunistic bacteria to overgrow and cause bacterial vaginosis.

Semen, saliva, or another vaginal microbiome can all disrupt your vaginal flora. This means that having unprotected sex or sex with a new partner can make you more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis.

The Impact of an Imbalanced Vaginal Microbiome

21M

women aged 14-49 yrs. experience a vaginal infection every year that is attributable to an imbalanced vaginal microbiome

58%

of women experience a recurrence of a vaginal infection within 12 months

90%

women experience symptoms related to a vaginal infection, including: vaginal odor, dripping and discharge, which affects their ability to have and enjoy sex

There are no FDA approved products for the prevention of the most common vaginal infections

To prevent common vaginal infections, the recommendation from US. Dept Health & Human Services is to “not have sex” or “use condoms”

The Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Infections

More than half of sexually-active women will experience chronic vaginal discharge and dripping, vaginal odor, and vaginal infections. Few women will discuss this with their partner, let alone with their gynecologist.

Why do women experience these symptoms?

These symptoms are largely due to disruptions in the vaginal microbiome (the bacterial makeup of the vagina) from the presence of semen in the vaginal canal. Most of us have heard of the commercials discussing vaginal “pH.” This has to do with the amount of acid in the vagina—and most vaginas should be acidic, or have a low pH, of around 4.

Semen, on the other hand, is quite alkaline, or the opposite of acidic. It has a pH of 8. After sex, semen raises the vaginal pH, and it takes several hours for it to get back to normal. Medical studies have shown that semen in the vagina often leads to complaints of vaginal odor, dripping, and even chronic vaginal infections like Bacterial Vaginosis. These studies have shown that the longer the semen remains in the vagina, the greater the likelihood of these complaints.

Ask the Experts:

How do you enhance your vaginal wellness?

How do you enhance your vaginal wellness?

Dr. Michael Ingber, MD

Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer

“Don’t insert anything in your vagina containing fragrance, parabens, and sulfates. These can cause a build-up of bacteria which can lead to infection, irritation, and inflammation”​

“Drinking enough water and introducing probiotics to your diet, such as yogurt, can also keep the bacteria and odor at bay”​

“Avoid using special scrubs, scented soaps, and douching—even products that say they’re designed for vaginal care. These can also throw off your natural pH balance and bring on infection”​

Dr. Anika Ackerman, MD

Medical Advisor

“Choose clothing that will ensure your vulvovaginal area can breathe easily and stay dry. Moisture can promote the growth of bacteria, which can lead to a yeast infection.”​

“I recommend to all of my patients to make sure they’re regularly exercising. Physical activity improves blood circulation, which supports healthy tissue growth and reduces the risk of infection.”​

“I strongly recommend having a post-sex clean-up routine. Removal of semen and other fluids immediately after sex can reduce the chances of developing a vaginal infection.”​

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