Frequently asked questions

With so many similar products on the market, the supply of intimate care products can be difficult to navigate. To avoid disturbing the pH level of the vagina and causing irreversible damage to the genitalia, there are a few crucial factors to consider: the pH level, osmolality, and drying and irritating excipients.

Uula Intimate understands female intimate health like no one else. Medically developed and based on clinical research and development, the Uula Intimate product range is a reliable choice for women who want to take loving care for their intimate parts.

All Uula Intimate products are clinical-dermatological tested and approved. This means that you can use them without worry even when you’re pregnant and lactacting.

All Uula Intimate products are clinical-dermatological tested and approved. This means that you can use them without worry even when you’re pregnant and lactating.

All Uula Intimate products are free from hormones, parabens, silicones, and spermicides. They are fragrance-free and dye-free, and thus suitable for women who suffer from allergies and/or skin problems.

None of the Uula Intimate products contain animal or human extract, which makes them fully vegan – and lovable by all!

Many existing products claim to provide solutions to female hygiene problems at lower prices. Some consumers are more likely to make their purchase decisions based on price than others. However, these products lack the understanding of the female genitalia and offer solutions that can cause irreversible damage to the intimate parts.

Vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and thrush, are due to imbalanced pH levels. Washing your private parts with medically poor intimate washes that disturb the pH level of the vagina may also cause wider implications. Also, a vagina with a poor pH level faces a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can be expensive to treat in the long run.

Choosing a range of intimate care products that support and balance a healthy bacterial flora in the vagina is thus of great importance for the health and benefit of all women regardless of age and background.

Despite their demonstrated effectiveness, personal lubricants and moisturizers differ in terms of composition. First of all, it is important to note that there is a clear distinction between a lubricant and a moisturizer. Also, there are significant differences between commercially available products on the market.

The range of commercially available personal lubricants include water-, silicone-, mineral oil- and plant oil-based products. Depending on the brand, they are composed of a variety of ingredients. The presence of certain individual components may be associated with detrimental biological effects. This means that some personal lubricants are less suitable for use in specific situations and populations, such as for couples trying to conceive or those who face a higher risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Thus, when choosing a personal lubricant, you should choose one that supports and balances your intimate health, and suits your individual needs. Always choose a product that is optimally balanced in terms of osmolality and pH, and physiologically most similar to natural vaginal secretions.

The vagina is the internal tube of muscle that connects the uterus to the vulva. The vulva is the collective name for the whole of the external female genitalia, including the labia (lips), urethra (the tube from your bladder, ending in your pee hole), clitoris, pubic mound, and the entrance to the vagina. In short, the vulva is external, and the vagina is internal.

The vagina has its own delicate balance of bacteria that helps to keep it free from infections. Washing your vagina with soaps and shower gels can dry the mucous membrane of the genitalia and disrupt the natural bacterial balance of the vagina.

Keeping your vulva, or external female genitalia, clean and healthy is extremely important. Using a mild wash dedicated to the intimate area that supports and restores the pH level of the vagina is the best way to keep your vagina and vulva healthy and balanced.

A woman’s vagina is believed to be self-cleaning and does not require harsh chemicals for cleaning or douching. However, most women use shower gels or soaps to clean the external female genitalia, sometimes also the inside of the vagina, resulting in many intimate health issues. The use of standard soaps and other cleaning products can disturb the pH level of the vagina and cause symptoms, such as irritation, unpleasant odour, and even severe infection.

Hence, it is important to use a good quality, medically proven wash liquid that restores the pH level of the vulva and protects it from getting disturbed by commercial products. A medically proven intimate wash also supports the growth of good bacteria, lactobacillus, which is vital for a healthy intimate area.

Uula Intimate Wash Gel is developed by a team of experienced and qualified chemists in a highly regulated environment in Finland. The ingredients used in the wash gel support intimate female health and promote the generation of healthy bacteria, thus making a great choice for women who wish to take loving care of their intimate parts.

To understand the need for vaginal friendly intimate products, we need to have a look at pH. Ranging from 0 to 14, a pH below 7 indicates acidity, while a pH above 7 designates a base. 7 stands for neutral.

Providing quick insight into your vagina’s ability to protect itself against infections, inflammation, and disease, vaginal pH is a key indicator of vaginal health. The vaginal microbiome is an acidic environment made up of primarily (>70 %) lactic-acid producing bacteria known as Lactobacilli. Vaginal pH is considered ‘normal’ between 3.8 and 4.5 on the pH scale.

The majority of soaps and wash gels available on the market have an alcalic pH of 8-10, which does not support a natural, balanced and healthy bacterial flora in the vagina. An unbalanced vaginal pH can lead to a range of issues making you more prone to infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and aerobic vaginitis (AV), both of which associate with a higher vaginal pH and, thus, an imbalance in the vaginal microbiome.

Bacterial infections and other health issues, such as antibiotics and disorders in the gastrointestinal tract, can cause changes in the pH of the vagina. Your vaginal pH balance might be off if you’re experiencing common symptoms of an infection, including, for example, the following:

• A strong, fish-like smell coming from your vagina
• Grey, green, or foamy vaginal discharge
• Itching around the vagina
• Swelling and irritation around the vagina
• Pain or a burning feeling in the vagina during intercourse
• A burning sensation while urinating

All women experience vaginal dryness at some point in their lives. The causes for decreased vaginal lubrication are numerous and include, for example, advancing age, hormonal changes, menopause, breastfeeding, stress and other conditions, such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic heart failure, multiple sclerosis and iatrogenic causes, among them radiation, chemotherapy treatment and antidepressant use.

Whatever causes your vaginal dryness, Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel has got you covered! Get to know it and give it a try here.

Read about Bacterial Vaginosis here.

Osmolality is one of the key factors to consider when comparing intimate care products. Osmolality refers to the concentration of all chemical particles dissolved in the fluid part of the blood. On the cell membrane, moisture is always transferred to the side of the membrane with a higher osmolality, i.e. a higher amount of chemical particles. Thus, it acts as a balancing factor for moisture on the mucous membranes.

Many products on the market have an osmolality that is too high, which results in a drying effect on the mucous membrane. The osmolality of Uula Intimate products has been carefully calculated, tested, and proved optimal for the mucous membrane in the intimate area.

By choosing Uula Intimate, you choose a product that will maintain the natural moisture balance of the mucous membrane of your intimate area.

Vaginal dryness is common among women of all ages and backgrounds, but particularly common during and after menopause. Problems caused by vaginal dryness are, however, frequently underestimated due to their sensitive nature.

The fact is, that vaginal dryness has a great impact on women’s interpersonal relationships, quality of life, and daily activities, including sexual activity. Many women perceive vaginal dryness and discomfort as having a substantial negative impact on their lives, particularly with regard to sexual intimacy, their ability to have a loving relationship, and quality of life overall, although the degree to which women are bothered by these conditions varies considerably across countries.

Estimated to affect around half of all women at some point in their lives, vaginal dryness is widely associated with painful intercourse. Inadequate lubrication is a common cause of dyspareunia, or recurrent and/or persistent pain caused by sexual activity, which is known to cause markable distress among women.

Despite the availability of various treatment options, underreporting and undertreatment of vaginal dryness are common, and only a minority of women seek medical help. Barriers to treatment-seeking include, for example. embarrassment to talk about the subject, even with healthcare professionals.

Personal lubricants and moisturizers are effective at relieving discomfort and pain during sexual intercourse for women with mild to moderate vaginal dryness, particularly those who have a genuine contraindication to estrogen, or who choose not to use estrogen. There is, however, a distinction between lubricants and moisturizers, and notable differences exist between commercially available products. Thus, women are advised to pay close attention to the ingredients of the product to make sure that it is optimally balanced in terms of both osmolality and pH, and physiologically most similar to natural vaginal secretions.

All women experience vaginal dryness at some point in their lives. The causes for decreased vaginal lubrication are numerous and include, for example, advancing age, hormonal changes, menopause, breastfeeding, stress and other conditions, such as diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic heart failure, multiple sclerosis and iatrogenic causes, among them radiation, chemotherapy treatment and antidepressant use.

Whatever the cause behind your vaginal dryness, Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel has got you covered.

Despite their demonstrated effectiveness, personal lubricants and moisturizers differ in terms of composition. First of all, it is important to note that there is a clear distinction between a lubricant and a moisturizer. Also, there are significant differences between commercially available products on the market.

The range of commercially available personal lubricants include water-, silicone-, mineral oil- and plant oil-based products. Depending on the brand, they are composed of a variety of ingredients. The presence of certain individual components may be associated with detrimental biological effects. This means that some personal lubricants are less suitable for use in specific situations and populations, such as for couples trying to conceive or those who face a higher risk of exposure to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Thus, when choosing a personal lubricant, you should choose one that supports and balances your intimate health, and suits your individual needs. Always choose a product that is optimally balanced in terms of osmolality and pH, and physiologically most similar to natural vaginal secretions.

The WHO has guidelines for formulating lubricants for vaginal use. Non-physiological pH and osmolality, as well as the presence of excipients, such as parabens and microbicides, are associated with a variety of proven or potential detrimental effects. Thus, the recommended safe values for pH and osmolality should be carefully ensured when choosing a personal lubricant.

Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel is formulated strictly according to WHO’s guidelines, complying to the following three criteria:

1. 1. Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel is water-based and, thus, condom-friendly. (Oil-based lubricants can break condoms, which make them ok to use for couples who do not use condoms as birth control.)
   2. The pH of Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel is set to the normal vaginal value of 4.5.
   3. The osmolality of Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel has been adjusted to a value that’s less than 1200 mOsmol/kg. This means that it does not dry out the mucous membrane of the genitalia as opposed to most lubricants on the market, which have an osmolality over 1200 mOsmol/kg, and, as a result of that, causes the mucous membrane to dry out.

Thus, Uula Intimate Lubricant Gel is the perfect choice for modern-day women looking for an effective lubricant that supports their intimate health.

Human skin needs attention and care to keep it soft, supple, and protected from harsh sunlight and pollution. While we openly talk about caring for facial and body skin, not many people feel comfortable discussing the skin of their private parts. Women usually spend more time, money and energy on their visible skin than on caring for the skin on their female genitalia, which is an equally vital body part. After all, a woman’s vagina is the source of new life, and thus deserves the best possible treatment!

It is no news that even the cleanest person, at times, can get itchy and irritated down there – and that is okay! A female body goes through many phases in life, some of which can cause hormonal changes that result in the intimate areas feeling dry and irritated.

It is significant to take measures to nurture and nourish the lady parts to keep them healthy. In order to not interfere with the natural balance of the vaginal flora, products to be used in the intimate area require a certain composition as well as pH value and osmolality.

Uula Intimate Oil is developed solely for your lady parts, for the natural care and maintenance of a healthy pH in the vagina.

A woman’s vagina is believed to be self-cleaning and does not require harsh chemicals for cleaning or douching. However, most women use shower gels or soaps to clean the external female genitalia, sometimes also the inside of the vagina, resulting in many intimate health issues. The use of standard soaps and other cleaning products can disturb the pH level of the vagina and cause symptoms, such as irritation, unpleasant odour, and even severe infection.

The majority of soaps and wash gels available on the market have an alcalic pH of 8-10, which does not support a natural, balanced and healthy bacterial flora in the vagina. Hence, it is important to use a good quality, medically proven wash liquid that restores the pH level of the vulva and protects it from getting disturbed by commercial products. A medically proven intimate wash also supports the growth of good bacteria, lactobacillus, which is vital for a healthy intimate area.

Uula Intimate Wash Gel is developed by a team of experienced and qualified chemists in a highly regulated environment in Finland. The ingredients used in the wash gel support intimate female health and promote the generation of healthy bacteria, thus making a great choice for women who wish to take loving care of their intimate parts.

An intimate wash gel is a solution formulated especially for women to cleanse their private areas. Intimate wash gels are sold in medical or departmental stores without a doctor’s prescription.

When weighing your options, you ought to pay special attention to the ingredients and properties of the intimate wash gels. Many products on the market fail to understand the vaginal flora and its mechanisms and, thus, end up selling products that may cause harm to the intimate area. An intimate wash of poor quality will disturb the pH balance (3.8-4.5) of the vagina, which may result in further dryness, itchiness, and other problems related to the female parts. Thus, it is worth investing in a product that can protect the pH balance of your vagina and prevent it from getting altered.

Washing your intimate area with body washes or medically poor intimate wash gels that disturb the pH level of the vagina may cause vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and thrush. A vagina with a poor pH level faces a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), which can get expensive to treat in the long run.

Uula Intimate Wash Gel is a medically developed liquid that helps maintain the delicate balance of good bacteria in the vagina. Lactic acid, one of the active ingredients, helps keep the vaginal pH level in check and supports the growth of good bacteria, Lactobacillus, which is vital for the prevention of bacterial vaginosis (BV).

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina, which causes an imbalance in the vaginal flora.

The most common symptoms of BV include:

• A watery, greyish-white vaginal discharge
• A fishy or unpleasant odor, especially after sex
• Pain, itching or burning in the vagina, especially during sex
• Itching in the area outside the vagina
• A burning feeling when peeing

However, some women may not suffer from any BV-related symptoms. In fact, studies show that about half of women with BV show no symptoms at all. Every woman is different.

BV is a common vaginal infection. It is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but it can increase your risk of getting an STI, such as chlamydia.

BV is not an infectious condition per se, though it can be responsible for adverse outcomes in pregnant women, including premature ruptures of membranes, premature deliveries, chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, and postpartum infant complications. There is an association between BV and an increased risk of spontaneous miscarriage ranging between 13 and 24 gestational weeks and preterm birth, as well as posthysterectomy vaginal cuff infection and an increased risk of acquiring STI, especially genital herpes and HIV.

Although not completely fitting the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infection (STI), BV is strongly associated with sexual activity.

Various societies, associations and clinical expert groups of women’s health, sexual health, gynecology, and infection diseases around the world have given guidelines and recommendations for the diagnosis and management of vaginal discharge and related conditions. Based on these guidelines, treatment of BV is recommended for women with symptoms.

The benefits of treatment of BV are to relieve vaginal symptoms and signs of infection. Other potential benefits include a reduced risk for acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs). With the availability of complementary and alternative therapies and over-the-counter medications, many symptomatic women seek these products before or in addition to an evaluation by a medical provider.

Normally, bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists antibiotic resistance as one of the biggest threats to global health. Antibiotic resistance can affect anyone and means that bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic-resistant. This means that they are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria. Thus, it is important to use antibiotics only when prescribed by a certified health professional.

Treatment possibilities for BV are limited and only achieve complete cure in 65-85 % of cases. For most women, BV relapses within weeks to months after treatment. Women who suffer from frequent recurrences need to pay extra attention to minimizing the burden that BV imposes on their quality of life.

Uula BV Gel is efficient in preventing and treating BV – without antibiotics. The 7-day treatment relieves symptoms, such as unpleasant odour, abnormal discharge, and mucosal irritation in the vagina, while sustaining and balancing the vaginal flora.

To maintain a natural pH balance in the vagina and avoid recurring symptoms, Uula BV Gel can be used every every three days for a total period of three months.

Most women will suffer from a vaginal infection at some point in their life. According to studies, BV has a prevalence rate of about 21.2 million (29.2 %) worldwide1.

BV is typically encountered in women of childbearing age, rarely during menopause, and never in children. In fact, for women aged 15 to 44, it is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge.

Microbiologically, BV is caused by changes in the microbial flora in the vagina, which are characterised by the loss or reduction of lactobacilli and the concurrent high concentration of numerous other bacterial species. Problems are, in other words, caused by disturbances in the vaginal pH due to an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.

Risk factors for BV are:

• Using an intrauterine device (IUD)
• New or multiple sex partners
• Over-washing your intimate area
• Low levels of estrogen, e.g. during menopause
• Oral contraceptives and certain other medications

1 Javed A, Parvaiz F, Manzoor S. Bacterial vaginosis: An insight into the prevalence, alternative treatments regimen and it’s associated resistance patterns. Microb Pathog. 2018 Nov 28;127:21-30.

BV is caused by an imbalance in the vaginal flora, and can thus be prevented by supporting and sustaining the normally acidic pH balance of the vagina.

This can be done by the following:

• Whenever possible, wear cotton underwear and pantyhose with a cotton gusset. Change your underwear regularly, especially if exercising frequently.
• Avoid using perfumed products – soaps, wash gels, lotions, and oils – in and around your intimate area.
• Avoid over-washing your intimate area.
• Avoid using strong detergents when washing your underwear.
• Change your tampons and pads frequently.

The vagina and its microflora form a balanced ecosystem, or eubiosis. Vaginal eubiosis is characterised by a beneficial lactobacillus dominated microbiota. Lactobacilli are the most prevalent and often numerically dominant micro-organisms and are relevant as a barrier to infection.

Prebiotics, such as glycogen, contain nutrients that support the growth of lactobacilli and aid in restoring the vaginal microflora in the most natural way, supporting the growth of the endogenous lactobacilli. Lactic acid is the predominant acid metabolite found in the vaginal fluid of healthy asymptomatic women.

According to recent studies and cumulative knowledge over several decades, BV is characterized by a dramatic loss of lactic acid as well as in increased prevalence and production of acetate, propionate, butyrate and succinate, and amines. Glycogen, including its breakdown products glucose and maltose, on the other hand is thought to be the primary energy source used by lactobacilli during anaerobic glycolysis, which leads to lactic acid production.

High free glycogen levels and lactobacilli in the vaginal lumen tend to correlate with low vaginal pH. In contrast, glycogen and lactic acid are depleted in women with BV.