On the one hand, we know that chronic stress affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system, which, in turn, affects the body's immune system. In contrast, in recent years there has been an increase in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Chronic stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.

The aim of the study, conducted by a group of Swedish scientists, was to determine the relationship between chronic stress and the development of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. The results of this study were published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The study included 35 women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, which was defined as at least 4 episodes of vulvovaginal candidiasis in the previous year and at least one episode should be confirmed by a positive microbiological study ( isolation of fungi of the genus Candida). 35 healthy women of the same age were in the control group. All patients underwent a saliva test to determine the cortisol content. A determination of the level of hormones in the blood serum and a vulvovaginal examination were also carried out. The women received questionnaires specially designed for self-completion, concerning the assessment of their well-being.

The level and rate of morning cortisol increase were significantly lower in the group of women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis than in the women in the control group (p less than 0.002). The mean values of cortisol concentration in saliva within 45 minutes after waking up in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis were lower than in patients in the comparison group. Compared to the control group, a greater number of patients in the first group reported a history of bacterial vaginosis, genital herpes and genital warts, which confirms the hypothesis of a decrease in local immunity in women. with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. When comparing blood levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (or testosterone-estradiol-binding globulin), dihydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, and glycated hemoglobin in patients in the two groups, no difference was found. been found.

The results obtained show that chronic stress can play a role in the pathogenesis of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. However, the researchers note that more research is needed to more precisely establish the relationship between the parameters studied.