‘pH-Balanced’ is pH-ucked
Yes, pH matters, a healthy vaginal pH is between 3.8-4.5, but pH is only part of the equation. Osmolality and ingredients might be even more important.
Katie
3 min read
‘pH-balanced’ is important, but it's not enough. Osmolality, ingredient selection, and microbiome impact all matter.
Glycerin & glycols
Glycerin (and its cousins propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol) are humectants and they're added in formulations to retain moisture.
But here's the problem: glycerin and glycols temporarily add moisture by pulling that moisture out of your vaginal tissue.
This happens because of something called osmolality.
What the f*ck is osmolality?
Osmolality measures the concentration of dissolved particles in a solution. Think of it as how ‘concentrated’ a liquid is compared to your body's cells.
Vaginal juices have an osmolality of around 370 ± 40 mOsm/kg. Semen is similar at 250-380 mOsm/kg. So ideally, your lubricant should be in this range too. When a lubricant matches this range (iso-osmolar), the vaginal cells stay happy and healthy. They maintain their water balance, their structure stays intact, and the epithelial (internal protective) barrier functions properly - by fighting off infections.
But when a lubricant has much higher osmolality (hyperosmolar), it draws water out of your vaginal cells. Your cells may shrink, dry up and become irritated - leaving you more vulnerable to inflammation, infections and STIs.
Glycerin
Glycerin is also a sugar alcohol that can act as food for Candida albicans, the fungus that causes yeast infections. While not everyone who uses glycerin-containing lube will get a yeast infection, if you're prone to them, it’s highly likely glycerin is the culprit.
Parabens
Parabens are a suspected endocrine-disrupting chemical.
Parabens have been shown to negatively impact the growth and viability of vaginal Lactobacillus species - the protective bacteria that keep your vaginal microbiome healthy and help your body clear HPV infections (see our previous post).
Disrupting Lactobacillus means you're more vulnerable to bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and, as we now know, persistent HPV infections that could potentially progress to cervical cancer.
Alcohol (any ingredient ending in '-acetate')
If you spot any ingredient ending in 'acetate,' it means the lubricant contains alcohol. Alcohol is naturally drying and can be irritating to delicate skin.
Fragrances & flavours
Flavoured lubes contain high sugar levels to make the flavour, and the sugar feeds the bacteria naturally found in the vagina, encouraging yeast growth.
Plus, who needs their vagina to smell like ‘strawberry’? Your vagina is fine as it is.
Everyone's Microbiome is Different
Here's something crucial to remember: everyone's vaginal microbiome is unique. What causes irritation or disruption for one person might be perfectly fine for another. Similarly, what works for your friend might not work for you.
This is why lube preferences vary so widely and why it's worth paying attention to how your body responds to different formulations. Your microbiome is as individual as you are.
You shouldn't have to choose between pleasure and health
Your vaginal microbiome is your first line of defence. Products should support it, not disrupt it.
With vögeln: a f*cking gel, every single ingredient decision was made with vaginal microbiome health and tissue integrity as the foundation for pleasure without compromise.
vögeln: a f*cking gel launching January 2026 - Join the waitlist
This blog post discusses published scientific research. It does not make health claims about any vögeln products.
Want to go deeper?
→ 6000 people made history with their vaginas
→ Why we're obsessed with carrageenan
→ The vaginal microbiome & HPV
