How to support vaginal health and avoid yeast infections and BV
Vaginal health is not a very big topic in the wellness industry, not like digestive or hormonal health, however whether it is itchiness, abnormal discharge or just general discomfort, when things are not right ‘down there’ you know about it. If you have a vagina, likelihood is that you will experience some kind of vaginal problem at some point in your life.
Most of us know about the gut microbiome and it’s importance for health, but many of us don’t pay attention to the vaginal microbiome - VBM. Yes, that is correct, the vagina has an eco system all on it’s own. When this becomes disrupted, we can experience many different issues. If the VMB is imbalanced, it can become the ideal breeding ground for infections such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and yeast infections such as thrush.
The three most common vaginal issues that occur are;
yeast infections
trichomoniasis
bacterial vaginosis.
Vaginal dryness is also very common, especially in menopause.
While these concerns do have some similar symptoms, their causes are completely different.
Yeast infections
If you suffer from this you know how difficult this can be to get rid of and how uncomfortable the reality is of living with a yeast infection. However, it is possible to live without it and yes you can get rid of it. What is a yeast infection. Common symptoms are itching, burning, ‘cottage cheese’ like discharge.
Vaginal yeast infections are an overgrowth of candida in your nether-region. Candida is a fungal species commonly found in the vagina and gut. Sometimes, an imbalance in gut bacteria will allow for candida overgrowth, says Dr. Jolene Brighten, a naturopathic physician and author of “Beyond the Pill”.
“Candida is normally found in the vagina and is in balance with other microorganisms,” Brighten says. But candida is an “opportunistic organism,” she says, meaning that, if given the opportunity, it will grow.
Periods, menopause, sex, pregnancy hormonal birth control can all shift the ecosystem of the vagina, making your more susceptible to yeast over growth. Most yeast infections resolve by themselves but in case they are recurring it’s a good idea to visit the doctor to find out the cause and perhaps investigate why you are more susceptible to infection in the first place. In many cases, having a resilient and strong immune system helps to fight off a candida infection.
There are many over the counter remedies, however, they usually just treat the symptoms and can have side effects of their own. There is much research now about the vaginal microbiome so this is a good place to start. Studies have shown that ‘good’ bacteria can inhibit yeast growth and bio film production. Your gut microbiome is shared with your vaginal microbiome, which is why dietary practices that supports your gut also supports your vagina. Coconut oil and teat tree oil are two home remedies that can help with the symptoms but may not be enough to resolve an infection.
FOODS for yeast infections – increase garlic and onions, fresh fruits and vegetables.
REDUCE cold and raw foods, alcohol, soy foods, refined sugary foods ie biscuits, pastries, sweets etc.
Bacterial vaginosis
It mostly affect women in their reproductive years, between 15-44. Its cause by an overgrowth of the normal bacteria in the vagina. In women with BV the healthy bacteria ie lactobacillus becomes scarce and other bacteria takes over and a woman’s ph rises. The ph. of a woman’s vagina should be acidic, and this is due to the lactobacillus producing lactic acid which keeps everything in balance.
Symptoms include unusual vaginal discharge, ie thin, white or gray or green in colour. Fishy odour, more noticeable during a period or intercourse, vaginal itching or painful urination. If you have these symptoms go and check with a doctor to get the correct diagnosis as it could be another type of infection. They will then prescribe medications to get rid of the BV and for some, this is the only way to resolve a stubborn BV. They often prescribe antibiotics for BV. Antibiotics can disrupt the VMB so it’s a good idea to take a probiotic during the course of your medication.
If you want to try something more natural then Vitamin C suppositories shows great results. Research found that Vitamin C was effective in both reducing the recurrence of BV in women and in the management of BV - 1. Even though BV, could go away on it’s own, untreated BV leaves you more vulnerable to
· Increased risk of miscarriage
· Pelvic infection
· Increased risk of contracting STI’s due to the disruption of the vaginal flora.
Diets that are low in Vitamins such as A, C and E and iron are associated with vaginal dysbiosis. 2
So you want to be focusing on foods high in these nutrients, Vitamin A and iron ie red meat, eggs, butter, cheese. Vitamin C ie fresh fruit, peppers, berries. Vitamin E wholegrains, almonds, butternut squash.
Trichomoniasis
If you have never heard of this, it’s because you’ve probably never had it and if you did, you’d know. However, to make things more complicated, some people never experience symptoms.
Trichomoniasis – or trich – is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world. While some women have no symptoms, other women experience symptoms such as foul vaginal odour, frothy vaginal discharge, itchy inner thighs and pain having sex, pelvic pain and pain during urination. If you experience any of these issues see a doctor to get a diagnosis. It is caused by a tiny parasite called Trichomonas vaginalis (TV), which infects the vagina and the urethra in both men and women. While its easy to treat with antibiotic, left untreated it can lead to problems later on in life. Such as increased risk of pre term delivery, low birth weight 4 and some studies suggest that trichomoniasis is related to cervical cancer risk, pid and infertility. 5
Some natural treatments can help, especially if you are resistant to some antibiotics.
Pomegranate juice – one clinical study women experienced a complete cure of their trichomoniasis. It’s likely due to the anti-parasitic effect of the cranberry extract. 6
Other natural remedies can be things like garlic, ginger extract, nigella sativa oil, tomato and a avocado. They all have anti-parasitic and anti – inflammatory properties 7
Finally, here are some suggestions how you can support your vaginal health and prevent issues and keep her happy and healthy.
· No intimate wash. Plain water is fine. You need nothing to clean inside the vagina, it cleans itself.
· Make sure you use plain cotton underwear. Any manmade fabric, ie polyster, nylon has no place there as those fabrics don’t breathe and can cause infection.
· Use natural, nontoxic ie non bleached pads and tampons. Not only can your vagina absorb these toxins, the toxins themselves can disrupt vaginal flora. There are many brand out there now that also make reusable pads.
· Eating probiotic foods such as fermented dairy ie yogurt and taking a good probiotic daily is excellent for your vaginal microbiome.
In many cases, the best defence against many common vaginal infections is maintaining a healthy vaginal pH and strong vaginal microbiota. Supporting your immune system and your gut by eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily, getting good sleep and exposure to day light is always going to help.
4 STD Facts - Trichomoniasis (cdc.gov)
5 Trichomoniasis: under control or undercontrolled? - PubMed (nih.gov)
7 Trichomoniasis Symptoms + Natural Treatments - Dr. Axe (draxe.com)
This article was first published on the Nutritionist resource website