How Exactly Does Stress Impact Vaginal Health?

As if the effects of stress weren’t far-reaching enough—now we have to worry about vaginal health, too? Turns out, almost nothing is safe from stress—more specifically the stress hormone, cortisol. But that may not surprise you. Because like the rest of us, you’re probably somewhat of a pro when it comes to dealing with stress—and all of its accompanying physical symptoms. Things like blood pressure, immune health, sleep, digestive health and more, all feel the burden of stress.

And your vaginal health is no different. That’s right, an already complicated topic just got more complicated. Along with sex, chronic health conditions, hygiene practices, pregnancy and hormone levels—stress can take a toll on vaginal health, too. But not necessarily in the ways you’d expect. For instance, you may already know that stress can impact your menstrual cycle—making it irregular, more painful or intensifying PMS. It can also impact your vaginal health in these surprising ways:

1.    It may increase your vaginal discharge. We don’t need to get into the details here, but as a part of the vaginal cleaning process, discharge is produced. There are a lot of different factors that can influence the color, smell or amount. Everything from ovulation and pregnancy to infection and stress can all make an impact. So if you notice heavier-than-normal discharge, it may be due to stress.

2.    It can cause dryness and/or discomfort. When you’re stressed, the last thing you want to be is intimate. So it makes sense, then, that your body would follow suit. With stress on your mind, hormone levels will begin to shift—as cortisol rises, testosterone (essential for your libido) will dip. On top of that, your body won’t be sending enough blood down there to increase moisture, so vaginal dryness and/or discomfort is more likely.

3.    It may spur on pH imbalance. There are few things more delicate than the pH balance that exists below the belt. To maintain a healthy pH level, your immune system helps to regulate several different types of healthy bacteria that coexist in perfect harmony. That is until something like stress gets involved.  Any change in your immune health—like stress—can impact your vaginal pH level, making a yeast infection and/or bacterial vaginosis more common.

Vaginal Health 101.

Unfortunately, your stress probably isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. That’s why it’s important to understand the impact it has your body from head to toe. But it's just one of the many factors, which is a lot to keep track of on your own. That’s why the experts at Gwinnett Physicians Group OB/GYN are prepared to help!  Whether you’re in search of medical information, preventative care or advanced diagnostics and treatment, Gwinnett Physicians Group OB/GYN, will be there for you—and your vaginal health—at every stage of life.