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Causes of Vaginal Yeast Infections: How High Estrogen Levels Fuel Candida Growth

Causes of Vaginal Yeast Infections: How High Estrogen Levels Fuel Candida Growth

Causes of vaginal yeast infections often trace back to imbalances in the natural flora of the vagina. While various factors contribute to these imbalances, hormonal fluctuations, particularly changes in estrogen levels, play a pivotal role. 

High estrogen fuels the growth of Candida, which is the type of yeast, or fungus, responsible for most vaginal yeast infections. Let’s delve into the dynamics of how elevated estrogen can heighten the risk of Candida overgrowth, exploring how hormonal imbalance influences vaginal health and preventative strategies to mitigate recurrent vaginal yeast infections.

 

Understanding the Vaginal Microbiome

Vaginal health is a key marker of overall health. The diversity and balance of the vaginal microbiome is a crucial determinant of vaginal health. Issues within the vaginal microbiome, especially bacteria or yeast overgrowth, strongly influence our gut microbiome and immune health.

Many women are all too familiar with the itching, irritation, and thick white discharge that comes with vaginal yeast infections. Yeast infections, in addition to urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV), are all different types of vaginal infections that afflict women of all ages. 

Candida is the most common cause of yeast infections, more specifically Candida albicans. Candida glabrata and Candida krusei are two less common species that also may be at play with recurrent yeast infections. 

It’s natural to have some level of yeast, bacteria, and other microbes present in order to have a diverse, flourishing vaginal microbiome. However, similar to our gut microbiome, it’s important that the vaginal microbiome stay balanced with healthy levels of these different microbes. 

Changes to the environmental conditions within the vagina open the door to imbalances within the microbiome. This includes changes to vaginal pH (acid-base balance), blood sugar dysregulation or insulin resistance, hormone imbalance, antibiotic use, and more. 

 

Estrogen’s Role in the Body

Estrogen is a critical class of reproductive hormones that includes estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3). Estradiol (E2) is the primary form of estrogen during the reproductive years. Estradiol fluctuates throughout the hormone cycle, regulating the menstrual cycle. It also plays an essential role in preparing the uterus for ovulation and implantation, which is critical for pregnancy. 

Estrogen is key in other areas of the body as well, impacting water retention and electrolyte balance, bone health, brain function, immune system responses, heart health, and blood sugar metabolism!

Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle. During menstruation it is at a low point. This is followed by an increase toward the end of the follicular phase as ovulation approaches. Estrogen then drops back down, until it rises again toward the end of the luteal phase. This rise helps stimulate the next menstrual cycle.

Signs of high estrogen include heavy bleeding during menstruation, irregular cycles, breast tenderness, weight gain, significant PMS symptoms, uterine fibroids, fatigue, depression, anxiety, bloating, hair loss, and headaches. 

A variety of situations can lead to high levels of estrogen. This includes pregnancy, estrogen-containing oral contraceptives, xenoestrogen exposure, estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT), constipation, and having higher amounts of fat tissue. High estrogen can decrease bile flow, which impairs digestion. This can increase the risk of GI overgrowth, infections, and also impacts the vaginal microbiome.

 

The Estrogen-Candida Connection

When describing a high estrogen state, that could be from overtly high estrogen levels, or from low progesterone levels coupled with normal estrogen. When progesterone is low, estrogen is unopposed, exacerbating the effects and symptoms of high estrogen. 

Elevated estrogen levels more specifically disrupt vaginal microbiome balance by fostering an environment ripe for Candida overgrowth. Progesterone has directly been shown to help decrease the ability of Candida to grow in the vaginal tissue. That being said, the balance between estrogen and progesterone is a key consideration for Candida growth.

High levels of estrogen have been shown to promote the virulence, or damage-causing effects, of Candida. This is because high estrogen decreases our body’s innate immune system activity of defending against Candida. This high estrogen environment also increases glycogen, or sugar, in the vaginal tissues, which is the primary fuel source for fungal cells. 

Research also suggests that elevated estrogen may change the structure of Candida cells in a way that allows them to more strongly attach to vaginal tissues. This allows the fungal cells to withstand the shedding of vaginal tissue that happens during menstruation, so these fungal colonies are able to stick around.

As you can see, elevated estrogen creates a perfect storm for vaginal yeast infections by impairing our own immune system’s ability to fight overgrowth and also by fueling Candida growth and colonization. 

 

Addressing Elevated Estrogen to Get to the Root of Vaginal Yeast Infections

Understanding the intricate relationship between high estrogen levels and Candida overgrowth is crucial for maintaining flourishing vaginal health. Hormonal imbalances, especially elevated estrogen, significantly disrupts the vaginal microbiome, creating a fertile ground for yeast infections. 

Addressing this requires a comprehensive approach. In our 1:1 coaching program, we utilize advanced hormone testing, gut microbiome testing, and more, to effectively assess and manage your unique situation. 

Using personalized lifestyle and food-as-medicine nutrition strategies, we can optimize gut and vaginal health and promote better hormone balance. All of these factors are key to quell the causes of vaginal yeast infections. Apply to work with us today!

 

 

Written by Romana Brennan, MS, RD

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