Keto crotch, the reason why your vagina feels like s**t when you’re on the keto diet

Are you on a keto diet? If you are, we have a question for you. Have you lately felt something weird about your vagina? No, we are not confusing you with these questions but we have a point to prove. Apparently, a keto diet can make your vagina smell fishy. FYI, this is known as a keto crotch. 

What you eat just doesn’t just have an effect on your weight, but also on your vagina. Most of us try our hands on various diets, without even consulting or researching about their side-effects, and then land up in trouble. That’s why we took the high road for you, and got in touch with a gynaecologist to know everything about keto crotch, one of the most common side effects of keto diet, what she revealed is completely shocking. 

Yes, it’s 100% true that eating a keto diet can mess your vagina’s pH

A keto diet is based on the consumption of high protein and fat, and low carbs. This entire thing might be great when it comes to weight loss, but when you talk about the pH level of your vagina, it fails miserably.

“The kind of food you eat in a keto diet is high fat and protein. All this gets metabolized in our liver and kidney. When there is too much fat and protein metabolization, then the process of ketosis starts in our body. The fat further breaks into ketones (chemicals like acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone). When we pass urine, then these ketones are released from our body and disrupt the pH level of your vagina. They are also released from vaginal secretion,” explains Dr Milloni Gadoya, Gynecologist at Apollo Spectra Hospital, Mumbai.

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Talking about this side effect of keto diet, she says: “A healthy vagina is a little acidic, and that’s why it is important for the vagina to maintain its pH level, otherwise there is a danger of bacterial and fungal growth. This is why you become more prone to infections like bacterial vaginosis or yeast infections.”

Itching, pain during sex, unusual discharge, discomfort, and bad vaginal odor are also experienced by those who get a keto crotch.

Not just that, but according to Dr Gadoya, a keto diet puts so much load on our kidneys that it can lead to kidney failure as well. In fact, due to kidney malfunction, people also face a burning sensation while peeing.

A keto crotch can also give you a keto rash

Well, that’s simply because when you have a keto crotch, there is a lot of discomfort and itching. And constantly touching it with unsanitized hands or rubbing of panties with your vagina can also lead to a rash.

Also, the urine becomes so acidic in nature when you are on a keto diet that it can also cause skin irritation down there.  

Here are four things you can do to get rid of a keto crotch

1. Eat a balanced diet

“Not just keto, but many fad diets can change the vaginal pH balance. Therefore it is better that you adopt a balanced diet to restore your vagina’s pH levels. Including healthy carbs to your diet causes no harm,” suggests Dr Gadoya.

2. Watch your portion size

We need to be vigilant of the portion size that we eat. Ensure that you eat small portions, so that you don’t gain weight. Include all the nutrients to keep your vagina happy and healthy.

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3. Use lactacyd or a vaginal wash

“This is a short-term measure you can take to bring instant relief. You can use lactacyd or any medicated vaginal wash to bring pH levels back to normal. But it is not a permanent solution,” recommends Dr Gadoya.

4. Exercise daily

Exercising regularly is important, as it helps to keep your metabolism healthy, and then you don’t need these fad diets like keto, etc. to maintain your weight.

So now that you know the side effects of keto diet, it is better to stay away from them and stick to the basics.