Two Ways Diabetes Can Impact Your Vaginal Health

The conversation surround the impact diabetes has on the body often revolves around heart, brain, and leg health. This is understandable since diabetes significantly increases your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or leg amputation due to its affect on the blood vessels. However, diabetes can also hurt your vaginal health and your sex life as a consequence. Here are three issues that may arise because of high blood sugar levels and what you can do to prevent or minimize them.

Increase in Infections

Possibly the most common problem you'll develop because of diabetes is an increase in yeast and other vaginal infections. This can occur for a couple of reasons. First, high blood sugar levels can lead to a corresponding rise in glucose in bodily fluids. Bacteria feeds on this sugar, multiply exponentially in number, and upset the delicate balance in the vaginal area, leading to infection.

Second, diabetes can cause dehydration. Among other problems, this can cause dryness in the vaginal area. Without the necessary moisture to help remove bacteria and waste, these items build up and contribute to the development of infections.

The best thing you can do is get your blood sugar levels under control, which will reduce the instance of infections. Be sure to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and use a gentle vaginal cleanser to help remove excess bacteria.

Decrease in Orgasmic Response

Another way diabetes impacts your vaginal health is it may hurt your ability to have an orgasm. Some women feel sexual excitement but are unable to climax, while other women experience a significant reduction in their libidos overall. It isn't exactly clear why this is, but a couple of issues could be causing the problem.

Diabetes can have a negative impact on the circulatory system overall. Poor circulation can make it difficult for blood to reach the vaginal tissues and help facilitate orgasm, leading to a poor response. Nerve damage can also lead to poor sexual response, since there are about 8,000 nerve endings in the clitoris alone.

Fixing a poor sexual response can be challenging, especially if it is caused in part or wholly by nerve damage. Exercising regularly can help improve the circulatory system. Though it may seem counterintuitive, masturbating on a regular basis can also help since it increases blood circulation in the vaginal area. Lastly, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to improve or slow the progression of nerve damage.

For more information about these and other vaginal health issues caused by diabetes or help treating a specific condition, contact a knowledgeable gynecologist or a clinic, like Entira Family Clinics.