The vaginal microbiome.
Since we mostly discuss the gut microbiome, let's talk about the vaginal microbiome. Thanks to targeted investigations in this area has come a deeper understanding of what constitutes as "normal" vaginal flora. also to understand common factors that have the power to disrupt healthy microbial balance and new tools to positively influence the microbial community.
In 2008, the NIH Common Fund Human Microbiome Project was established to "generate resources that would enable the comprehensive characterization of the human microbiome and analysis of its role in human health and disease". Investigations were conducted on the oral and nasal cavities, GI and genitourinary tracts and the skin microbiomes.
The GI tract is home to about 500 different species and the number of species inhabiting the vagina is about 50. Vaginal eubiosis is the presence of beneficial lactic-acid-producing microbes that are largely dominated by Lactobacillus make up about 90% of the total bacteria in the genitourinary tract, while vaginal dysbiosis is a modest lactobacilli count or none at all.
Lactobacillus species in the vagina contribute to a number of health promoting and protective factors in women such as the production of lactic acid, inhibition of binding pathogenic bacteria including those responsible for yeast vaginitis, bacterial vaginosis, UTI's and STD's and regulation of the vaginal epithelial cell innate immunity. Because of this, most of the research on probiotics for the genitourinary tract has been focused on the potential benefits of intravaginal application of lactobicilli strains. Numerous studies have also found that oral administration of specific trains of lactobacilli can maintain and restore healthy genitourinary microbita in females.
Bacterial vaginosis is a common infection causing significant gynecological and obstetric morbidity. Symptoms include vaginal malodor, itching, dysuria and thin discharge. BV has been associated with pelvic inflammatory disease, infections following gynecological surgery and preterm birth. An estimated 40% of preterm labor and birth may be associated with BV.
Clinical data points to the importance of a healthy vaginal microbiome as an approach to reducing the incidence of infections and improving pregnancy outcomes.
The Environmental Vagina Monologues