The pH standard of sanitary napkins has caused controversy. It is not reliable to only look at the pH!

Review expert: Wang Xuejiang, professor at Capital Medical University

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Topic of "pH Standard of Sanitary Napkins"

Attracting widespread attention

Current national standards for sanitary napkins (pads)

For pH index, it is stipulated to be 4.0~9.0

This is consistent with the "National Basic Safety Technical Specifications for Textile Products"

For non-direct skin contact

Same pH requirements for Class C textile products

The national standard for sanitary napkins (pads) stipulates that the pH index is 4.0~9.0

This standard has caused a lot of controversy

Is sanitary napkin safe just by looking at pH?

Not reliable

When seeing the hot search topic, many netizens said: The vaginal environment is naturally slightly acidic. If neutral or alkaline sanitary napkins are used for a long time, will it cause harm to the female body? Many gynecological experts said that this is because many people have a misunderstanding of the relationship between the pH of sanitary napkins and the pH in the vagina.

Bai Wenpei, director of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beijing Century Memorial Hospital, said, "Sanitary napkins are in contact with the surface of women's skin, which is a certain distance from the actual vagina. Therefore, it is difficult to say that the pH of the sanitary napkin itself will have a direct impact on the vaginal environment."

On November 12, the Yunnan Yuxi Municipal Market Supervision Administration also released the "Yunnan Provincial Consumer Association Comparative Test (II): Sanitary Napkins", stating that "according to national standards and relevant regulations, the pH of sanitary napkins (including sanitary pads) should be between 4.0 and 9.0. The pH within this range is considered to be relatively neutral or close to the natural pH of women's private parts, and therefore can reduce irritation and discomfort to the skin."

0 1 Lactobacillus can regulate the pH of the female vaginal environment

For healthy women, the pH in the vagina is usually not affected by external factors, such as the pH of the sanitary napkin itself, because the lactobacilli in the vagina can convert sugars such as glucose into lactic acid to maintain the normal acidic environment in the vagina and inhibit the growth of other pathogens. This is also called the self-cleaning function of the vagina.

0 2 Vaginal pH can be adjusted according to the situation

The pH of a woman's vagina is not static and will change during different physiological periods (such as menstruation, after sexual intercourse, menopause, etc.). Under normal circumstances, the vagina is a weakly acidic environment, usually with a pH of ≤4.5 (3.8-4.5), but with the arrival of menstruation, since the pH of menstrual blood is higher than that of the vaginal environment, the pH in the vagina will also rise during this period, reaching a level of about 6.

Since pH changes with time, why does the private part still itch during menstruation? This may be because during menstruation, the private part is kept in a moist and airtight environment for a long time, and is allergic to the material of the sanitary napkin. If the itching symptoms are not relieved after the menstrual period, you need to seek medical attention in time.

What about long-term use of medical sanitary napkins?

When the topic of "pH standard of sanitary napkins" attracted widespread attention, some consumers turned their attention to medical-grade sanitary napkins. "Doctors suggest not to rush to buy medical sanitary napkins" became a hot topic and attracted attention.

So, can medical sanitary napkins really be used for a long time?

0 1 Medical sanitary napkin

According to the "Hygiene Requirements for Disposable Sanitary Products" and the relevant standards of "T/NAHIEM 003-2017 Medical Grade Sanitary Napkins (Including Sanitary Pads)", sanitary napkins are divided into four categories: ordinary grade, disinfection grade, medical grade, and medical grade. As the highest standard of sanitary napkins, medical grade sanitary napkins must meet medical sterility standards during the production process, and no fungi or bacteria should be detected.

In the "Hygiene Requirements for Disposable Sanitary Products", microbiological indicators are determined for ordinary and disinfected sanitary napkins.

0 2Is it necessary to use medical sanitary napkins?

Compared with ordinary sanitary napkins, medical sanitary napkins have higher requirements for sterility and disinfection levels. For women with heavy vaginal bleeding and genital wounds, or some special diseases such as low immunity and anemia, they can choose the specific type of sanitary napkin to use under the guidance of a doctor.

However, experts say that the main target groups for medical sanitary napkins or pads include women who have just given birth, and patients who have undergone major gynecological surgery or have suffered heavy bleeding. They have higher requirements for sterility. In addition, medical sanitary napkins can also accurately record the amount of bleeding, providing an important reference for medical treatment.

"Although the standards for medical sanitary napkins are higher, ordinary sanitary napkins can fully meet women's needs under normal circumstances," said the expert.

0 3 "Medicinal sanitary napkins" are not medical sanitary napkins

Some sanitary napkins on the market are labeled with added medicinal ingredients such as wormwood and angelica, and advertised as having functions such as "relieving menstrual pain" and "anti-inflammatory". In fact, those with added medicines are not medical sanitary napkins. They are usually a gimmick to promote the efficacy of sanitary napkins after adding herbs. However, the powdered medicine is easy to oxidize and deteriorate, and it is often used by healthy women and has the hidden danger of causing private diseases.

Some "medicated sanitary napkins" are made by soaking in medicine and then drying. Very few ingredients remain in the sanitary napkins after drying. Moreover, sanitary products used in private areas have more additives, which increases the risk of excessive microorganisms and allergies.