Can sugar cause or encourage bacterial vaginosis?

Millions of women today are going to experience issues with vaginosis. There are several different types of issues that come with this problem, and often many women don’t see symptoms come through at first. However, if left alone, there are a wide variety of symptoms that can manifest, and disrupt a woman’s life. With over 3 million cases in the United States alone, this is an issue that requires a little bit more attention to fully understand. It may even be caused by overeating sugar, which is something that can become easy in some instances. Understanding vaginosis as a whole can help with determining what to do about this issue outright.

What Exactly Is Bacterial Vaginosis?

Bacterial vaginosis is an issue that affects women that are of child bearing age and even those that are pre-and post menopause. It’s a common occurrence that happens when the bacteria in the vagina is over run with the wrong bacteria. Normally, there is bacteria in the vagina that is balanced, and will be of a certain pH level. However, when there’s an overgrowth of bacteria, it can offset the pH balance and cause an inflammation of the vaginal tissue.

The root causes of this issue are varied, but the risks can rise for those that douche often, have unprotected sex, and have a change in hormones. The symptoms associated with this issue include discharge, foul odor, redness, itching, and abnormal bleeding. These can manifest over time, can be solitary, or in some instances be delayed. This issue becomes complicated because many women will not experience any symptoms at first.

Can Sugar Cause The Issue?

It has been proven that diet can have something to do with bacterial vaginosis. In fact, some women that have a diet that includes a great deal of sugar may find that they are susceptible to getting this bacterial infection. Studies have indicated that sugar can change the pH balance in the vagina, and even lead to bacterial vaginosis. This is something that may not occur in all women, however, but it has been shown that due to the body’s shift in sugar levels, that there may be a pH scale imbalance in the vagina over time.

Getting Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis

There are a number of things that can be done to get rid of vaginosis. The first is to look into over the counter medications that can help with the pH balance. There’s a number of solutions on the market today, many of which can work within a few applications. There are also options that directly impact vaginosis out right, and can lead to helping with the bigger issue that comes with this problem. Overall, this is something that can be taken care of over the counter, and at home. Limiting sugar can help with reducing risk as well. If nothing helps, or if things are getting worse, a doctor may be needed to diagnose and treat the issue outright. A doctor can prescribe medications that are topical and can help reverse vaginosis overall.