Are you curious about putting boric acid in your vag? You have probably heard that it’s a good treatment for yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis (BV), but are you sure it’s safe?

Is it safe to put boric acid in your vag, which is used in some vaginal suppositories to fight yeast infections, works by killing the microbes that cause the infection. It also binds to the cells of bacteria and fungi, preventing them from reproducing.

The reason it works this way is because of its acidity. Your skin has a pH of about 7, while your vagina is a little bit more acidic than that, ranging from 3.8 to 4.5 on the scale.

The Safety of Using Boric Acid in Your Vagina: What You Need to Know

But your vagina can become less acidic over time from periods, sex and antibiotic use (even exercise), allowing bad bacteria to grow. This can lead to odors, itching and discharge.

What’s more, boric acid can help restore your vagina’s natural ph balance* to get rid of the microorganisms that are causing the problem.

However, it is not as effective as some of the other options out there — such as miconazole creams or suppositories you’ll get from your doctor to treat yeast infections. And while it’s not harmful in small amounts, boric acid can be poisonous if swallowed or inhaled. It can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, endocrine disruption, increased liver enzymes and other problems. In rare cases, it can be fatal.