The pH of the vulvar region in the life cycle: scoping review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v26.75717Keywords:
Vulva, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Skin, Hygiene, Weights and MeasuresAbstract
Introduction: to map the studies that measured the Potential of Hydrogen (pH) of the vulvar region in women’s life cycle. Methods: scoping review according to recommendations from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis in the SCOPUS, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, PubMed, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine and Google Scholar databases in January 2022. Studies published in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English, without time limit, were included. Results: of the 954 documents retrieved, 13 were selected. Different measurement procedures in relation to equipment, environment and preparation of participants were used in the studies. The average age of the female population ranged between 31 and 43 years. The vulvar measurement sites were the labia majora and minora, interlabial sulci and perineum. The lowest pH value measured was 4.6 and the highest was 6.3. Conclusions: there was a low production of studies on vulvar pH and an emphasis of studies on the population of adult women. The diversity of procedures and measurement sites found does not allow for safe statements about a range of pH values on the surface of the vulvar skin.
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