Typical intimate problems for women include vaginal discharge, itching and burning in intimate areas. Vaginal and bladder infections are a common problem that most often affects women of reproductive age, but they are not an exception for teenagers or older women during menopause.
What habits influence the composition of essential bacteria in the intestine and vagina?
The vaginal mucosa is inhabited by a whole range of bacteria, the most important of which are lactic acid bacilli, which provide chemical protection of the vaginal environment (by producing lactic acid, they maintain the correct pH in the vagina) and bacteriological protection (they limit the presence and growth of other, mainly pathogenic bacteria and yeasts).
Hygiene habits
Insufficient or, conversely, excessive hygiene leads to a reduction in the number of lactobacilli. If the number of lactic acid bacteria is reduced, another microorganism may multiply here. In the vagina these are most common yeast Candida albicansbacteria in the urinary tract Escherichia coli or Proteus. All three of these microorganisms are common in the digestive tract, and their overgrowth can lead to a yeast infection or urinary tract infection.
Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics
Antibiotics disturb the balance of intestinal microflora and allow bacteria that can cause certain diseases to multiply. Broad-spectrum antibiotics also adversely affect the naturally acidic vaginal environment and thus enable the overgrowth of pathogenic yeasts or bacteria.
Weakened immunity and chronic diseases
Weakened immunity and chronic diseases have a significant impact on the bacterial flora. Immunity may be weakened as a result of illness, stress, lack of sleep or more serious reasons, such as oncological diseases or chemotherapy. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hormonal disorders, erysipelas, etc. also affect the bacterial flora.
Long stay in a humid environment
Long stay in a humid environment is a typical risk factor. An example would be staying in a wet swimsuit for a long time or taking a long bath.
The most common diseases of the intimate areas
Vaginal yeast infection
Up to 75% of women have been treated for this condition at some point in their lives. Yeasts need warmth, moisture and darkness to live, which is probably why they are one of the most common causes of vaginal infections. Yeast infections manifest typical symptoms – genital itching, curdled or watery discharge, local redness, swelling.
Bacterial vaginosis
The cause of this disease is a disturbance of the natural balance of the vagina. It is not an infection in the true sense of the word, bacterial vaginosis is caused by the overgrowth of bacteria that also occur naturally in the vagina. In most cases, this infectious disease manifests itself with unpleasant whitish watery discharge with a fishy odor.
