Please make DH feel better (re: ph, tmi)

[daisyfay311]

So we tested DH's ph last night and it's about a 7.6 assuming we did everything correctly. Wanted to test me but it was CD8 and there really wasn't a good way to do that just yet. I think my cervix is in east Egypt somewhere because paps, etc. hurt me so much so who knows if I will ever be able to test it. Amazing I got my dd at all, DH must have gps sperm.

Anyway, he was all proud of himself for a 7.6 until I showed him that IG recommended 9 and now Mr. Mood Swings has gone all, "Oh, we'll never have a boy. I am destined to have all daughters and there will be noone to carry on my wonderful family name." Whatever.

So is that a bad ph to start with? Can I just make him drink ASG or bsd and things will be okay?

I keep telling him to be more positive but I'm so anxious about all this it's making me crazy.

[atomic sagebrush]

I cannot say strongly enough of all the things I disagree with on IG, that a man needs to have pH of 9 to conceive a son has to be number ONE. ALL men everywhere have a normal semen pH in the mid-sevens. My husband's pH (the one time he let me test it) was in the 7's and he fathered 4 sons. Sperm of BOTH genders thrive in that pH and so that is why both semen and EWCM has that pH. The only men with high pH have something very wrong with them (prostate cancer). All the business with pH is based on the theorizing of Shettles (who was WRONG about the differences between X and Y sperm) and he based it on the work of ONE guy who was a veterinarian and did research many decades ago.

Please tell your husband that his pH is perfect and he has every chance at his son!

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh and BTW if you have a tipped uterus (which you might if they have trouble finding it for Paps) I just wanted to let you know that it does not sway at all.

[LolaInLove]

AMEN, Atomic! My Dh's ph is always in the 7s also. No worries, you can get your boy!

[daisyfay311]

Oh wow THANK YOU that is awesome!

So does that mean he shouldn't try the ASG or bsd or anything like that to raise ph? I was planning on doing ASG or Ural closer to attempt but wasn't sure if I should get him to or not.

[nuthinbutpink]

I cannot say strongly enough of all the things I disagree with on IG, that a man needs to have pH of 9 to conceive a son has to be number ONE. ALL men everywhere have a normal semen pH in the mid-sevens. My husband's pH (the one time he let me test it) was in the 7's and he fathered 4 sons. Sperm of BOTH genders thrive in that pH and so that is why both semen and EWCM has that pH. The only men with high pH have something very wrong with them (prostate cancer). All the business with pH is based on the theorizing of Shettles (who was WRONG about the differences between X and Y sperm) and he based it on the work of ONE guy who was a veterinarian and did research many decades ago.

Please tell your husband that his pH is perfect and he has every chance at his son!

"Normal semen pH is 7.2-8.0. Prostatic secretion is acidic while seminal vesicle fluid is alkaline (seminal fructose is derived from seminal vesicles). Acidic ejaculate (pH<7.2) may be associated with blockage of seminal vesicles. Infection is usually associated with alkaline ejaculate (pH >8.0_ Azoospermia with low ejaculate volume, fructose negative and acidic may imply obstruction of the ejaculatory ducts. pH over 8.0 may indicate infection."

[SpicyTunaSushi]

So- his pH needs to be at 7.5-8, but what about DW? This confuses me.

[atomic sagebrush]

My point is, most men never check their pH at all and do not care to, but normal pH is in the 7's and that is what the vast majority of men have. So most baby boys are conceived by men whose pH is in the 7s. He does not NEED pH of 9 to conceive a baby boy, baby boys are conceived every day by men who have normal semen pH in the 7's.

If you WANT to raise pH of semen or EWCM into the 8-9 range because you believe that is what Y sperm prefer, that's fine and you can do so and I can help you do just that, but no man should waste a second of worry if his pH is "only" in the 7's - he can still father sons and he is certainly not less of a man if his pH in in the 7's!!

[atomic sagebrush]

So- his pH needs to be at 7.5-8, but what about DW? This confuses me.

The normal pH of EWCM is about the same - somewhere in the 7's. Both X and Y sperm thrive in that pH.

[SpicyTunaSushi]

Great- so the whole IG thing is really about Shettle's poor assumption that Y sperm thrive at higher pH's. That is good since I don't think my pH will ever be that high!

Just a question though- when ever I check my EWCM, it doesn't really come out on the pH strip since it is so stretchy- and doesn't absorb in the ph strip. Is that normal?

[wantason]

ohh no ,, my dh's semen has naturally ph of around 9. does that mean there is smthg wrong ??? would i get my boy???

[atomic sagebrush]

Great- so the whole IG thing is really about Shettle's poor assumption that Y sperm thrive at higher pH's. That is good since I don't think my pH will ever be that high!

Just a question though- when ever I check my EWCM, it doesn't really come out on the pH strip since it is so stretchy- and doesn't absorb in the ph strip. Is that normal? There are others who made that assumption as well - a lot of Ericcson stuff is also based on the idea - SO much of the traditional sway is based on this idea and it's like trying to build a house on shifting sand. No matter how fine a house you build, if the foundation is flawed, it's not going to be as good a place to live as a home with a firm foundation.

I am a little confused by your question - if you leave it for 10 mintues, does it absorb and then the stick changes colors?? Or it never changes colors? There should be some liquid in the mucus even though it is stretchy, if you leave it a bit it will absorb into the test stick. If not, you may have low ionic strenght and need a digital tester.

[atomic sagebrush]

ohh no ,, my dh's semen has naturally ph of around 9. does that mean there is smthg wrong ??? would i get my boy???

If the pH theory is valid then absolutely that would be good news and you would be more likely to conceive a boy.

If he is taking any supplements to raise pH that is prob. why his pH is that high.

I am a little worried that the high pH, if it signals an infection or some other problem, might even trigger a low sperm count which would sway pink regardless of his pH. If he's not taking any supps, he might want to get checked out by a doctor just to be 100% sure he is ok.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you there, it's probably nothing but it is better to be safe than sorry. ♥

[Flava]

My DH Ph is always like 8-9 ( still did not get a boy...)so why is that not normal? And he is just fine not sick at all. Or now I have to think he got some infection all the time?:omg:

[purplepoet20]

Ok I am lost.... What is a good ph for hubby if I want a girl? His used to be a 9 before vita/herbs and now it is a high 7... he does have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout, and environment allergies.

[atomic sagebrush]

My DH Ph is always like 8-9 ( still did not get a boy...)so why is that not normal? And he is just fine not sick at all. Or now I have to think he got some infection all the time?:omg:

8 is probably ok but most guys are in the 7's normally (this is from WebMD and the World Health Organization, not some wacky website LOL). I"m sure there is a wide range of "normal" but I would maybe have him checked out just to make sure - if he does have some sort of low-grade infection it could def. make his count low and make you more likely to conceive girls.

If he has been taking any supps that can make his pH higher.

[atomic sagebrush]

Ok I am lost.... What is a good ph for hubby if I want a girl? His used to be a 9 before vita/herbs and now it is a high 7... he does have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, gout, and environment allergies.

I think his pH went down because he is getting healthier. You can get a boy or a girl if his pH is in the 7's, that is normal pH.

[wantason]

If the pH theory is valid then absolutely that would be good news and you would be more likely to conceive a boy.

If he is taking any supplements to raise pH that is prob. why his pH is that high.

I am a little worried that the high pH, if it signals an infection or some other problem, might even trigger a low sperm count which would sway pink regardless of his pH. If he's not taking any supps, he might want to get checked out by a doctor just to be 100% sure he is ok.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you there, it's probably nothing but it is better to be safe than sorry. ♥

shal i get him one course of antibiotic which will remove any infection if its there??

[purplepoet20]

I think his pH went down because he is getting healthier. You can get a boy or a girl if his pH is in the 7's, that is normal pH.

Well he is happy about the getting healthier part.... but oddly still wants to check his ph until we get preg ;)

[Flava]

8 is probably ok but most guys are in the 7's normally (this is from WebMD and the World Health Organization, not some wacky website LOL). I"m sure there is a wide range of "normal" but I would maybe have him checked out just to make sure - if he does have some sort of low-grade infection it could def. make his count low and make you more likely to conceive girls.

If he has been taking any supps that can make his pH higher.
I checked his Ph yesterday and it was 7.8! So just fine!:agree:
Anyway he was tested once and his count was even higher the average. Still got DD3 after that.

[atomic sagebrush]

Oh, thank goodness for that! I suspect that diet can make their pH bump up temporarily, it must only be when it's chronically high that there's a problem.

I agree about the pH Flava, I have seen so many people with pH all over the maps with babies of both genders.

[SpicyTunaSushi]

Back again, worrying why DH is usually a 8 is now hovering in the 7s. Again, please remind me why we believe that 9 is ideal?

[atomic sagebrush]

I DON'T believe that 9 is ideal!!!!!

7's is normal semen pH. I would suspect that he might have had a low-grade infection that was raising his pH a little and now it's cleared up (which is actually a very very very good thing for his sperm count and swaying blue.)

If you are super concerned about it, you can try having him drink BSD and lemon water to raise his pH but honestly, I would be quite happy with pH in the 7's. That is a sign of a healthy male repro tract. "Normal semen pH is 7.2-8.0. Prostatic secretion is acidic while seminal vesicle fluid is alkaline (seminal fructose is derived from seminal vesicles). Acidic ejaculate (pH<7.2) may be associated with blockage of seminal vesicles. Infection is usually associated with alkaline ejaculate (pH >8.0_ Azoospermia with low ejaculate volume, fructose negative and acidic may imply obstruction of the ejaculatory ducts. pH over 8.0 may indicate infection" http://www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/urology/male_infertility/SEMEN_ANALYSIS.html

The swaying lore holds that Y sperm "love" high pH but the evidence does not seem to bear that out.

[zanacal]

I was thinking about this - if semen is designed to have a pH in the 7s, wouldn't high pH as well as low pH sway pink in that it wouldn't be optimal for the sperm to survive in?

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, quite possibly, but I believe that the high pH is mitigated by the naturally very low pH of the vaginal canal so it doesn't have the same negative effect on the sperm as very low pH and can actually help more sperm to survive and sway blue that way.

If you average pH 9 with 4.5 and then add copious amounts of EWCM to that, you're more sperm friendly than you would if you average pH 7 with 4.5 (or even lower than 7 if you use lime) and then add Acijel and take antihistamines to dry up CM. Net total, even with the high pH, the traditional blue sway is still more sperm-friendly than the traditional pink sway.