The Surprising Power of Bacteria in the Vaginal Microbiome: How Lactobacillus is Crucial to Women’s Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.407Keywords:
vaginal microbiome, bacteria, loctobacillus, women's healthAbstract
The purpose of this review article is to highlight the role of beneficial bacteria in promoting a healthy vaginal microbiome. The article describes the mechanisms for maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome, the symptoms of a “dysbiotic” (disrupted) vaginal microbiome, and an overview of the vaginal diseases that can occur from a disrupted bacterial ecosystem inside this organ. Additionally, it outlines how to promote a healthy vaginal microbiome through lifestyle choices and a summary of current treatments available to patients who suffer from bacteria-related vaginal infections.
References
References
Azie, N., Angulo, D., Dehn, B., & Sobel, J. D. (2020). Oral Ibrexafungerp: an investigational agent for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 29(9), 893-900. https://doi.org/10.1080/13543784.2020.1791820
Baldacci, F., Baldacci, M., & Bertini, M. (2020). Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54+ Lactose, A Symbiotic Long-Lasting Vaginal Approach to Improve Women’s Health. International Journal of Women's Health, 1099-1104.
DOI: 10.2147/IJWH.S259311
Benedict, K., Jackson, B. R., Chiller, T., & Beer, K. D. (2019). Estimation of direct healthcare costs of fungal diseases in the United States. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 68(11), 1791-1797.
https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciy776
Bitew, A., Abebaw, Y., Bekele, D., & Mihret, A. (2017). Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis and Associated Risk Factors among Women Complaining of Genital Tract Infection. International journal of microbiology, 2017, 4919404.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4919404
Boahen A, Than LTL, Loke Y-L and Chew SY (2022) The Antibiofilm Role of Biotics Family in Vaginal Fungal Infections. Front. Microbiol. 13:787119. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.787119
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.787119
Brown, H., & Drexler, M. (2020). Improving the Diagnosis of Vulvovaginitis: Perspectives to Align Practice, Guidelines, and Awareness. Population health management, 23(S1), S3–S12.
https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2020.0265
Cateau, E., Rodier, M. H., & Imbert, C. (2008). In vitro efficacies of caspofungin or micafungin catheter lock solutions on Candida albicans biofilm growth. Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy, 62(1), 153-155
.https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkn160
Chandrashekhar, P., Minooei, F., Arreguin, W., Masigol, M., & Steinbach-Rankins, J. M. (2021). Perspectives on existing and novel alternative intravaginal probiotic delivery
methods in the context of bacterial vaginosis infection. The AAPS journal, 23(3), 66.
https://doi.org/10.1208/s12248-021-00602-z
Chee, W. J. Y., Chew, S. Y., & Than, L. T. L. (2020). Vaginal microbiota and the potential of Lactobacillus derivatives in maintaining vaginal health. Microbial cell factories, 19(1), 203.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-020-01464-4
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013, August 29). Incidence, prevalence, and cost of sexually transmitted infections in the United States.
http://www.cdc.gov/std/stats/STI-Estimates-Fact-Sheet-Feb-2013.pdf
Gustin, A., Cromarty, R., Schifanella, L., & Klatt, N. R. (2021). Microbial mismanagement: how inadequate treatments for vaginal dysbiosis drive the HIV epidemic in women. Seminars in immunology, 51, 101482.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smim.2021.101482
Gupta, S., Kakkar, V., & Bhushan, I. (2019). Crosstalk between vaginal microbiome and female health: a review. Microbial pathogenesis, 136, 103696.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2019.103696
Ismatiloevna, Y. F. (2022). TREATMENT OF VAGINAL DYSBIOTIC DISORDERS IN PREGNANT WOMEN BEFORE CHILDBIRTH. World Bulletin of Public Health, 12, 86-89.
https://www.scholarexpress.net
Lehtoranta, L., Ala-Jaakkola, R., Laitila, A., & Maukonen, J. (2022). Healthy vaginal microbiota and influence of probiotics across the female life span. Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 819958.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.819958
Losa, F., Palacios, S., Rodríguez, S. P. G., Baquedano, L., Khorsandi, D., & Muñoz, M. J. (2022). Vaginal dysbiosis management and the efficacy of a non-hormonal hyaluronic acid-based vaginal gel (Palomacare®) as an adjuvant treatment: the Palomascopia survey. Obstet Gynecol Cases Rev, 9, 222.
DOI: 10.23937/2377-9004/1410222
Nappi, R. E., & Kokot-Kierepa, M. (2012). Vaginal Health: Insights, Views & Attitudes (VIVA)–results from an international survey. Climacteric, 15(1), 36-44.
https://doi.org/10.3109/13697137.2011.647840
Peebles, K., Velloza, J., Balkus, J. E., McClelland, R. S., & Barnabas, R. V. (2019). High Global Burden and Costs of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sexually transmitted diseases, 46(5), 304–311.
DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000972
Qin, J., Saraiya, M., Martinez, G., & Sawaya, G. F. (2020). Prevalence of Potentially Unnecessary Bimanual Pelvic Examinations and Papanicolaou Tests Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Aged 15-20 Years in the United States.
doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.5727
Ravi, A., Pfeiffer, M. R., Rosner, Z., & Shea, J. A. (2017). Identifying health experiences of domestically sex-trafficked women in the USA: A qualitative study in Rikers Island jail.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-016-0128-8
Qi, F., Fan, S., Fang, C., Ge, L., Lyu, J., Huang, Z., ... & Zhang, X. (2022). Orally administrated Lactobacillus gasseri TM13 and Lactobacillus crispatus LG55 Can Restore the Vaginal Health of Patients Recovering from Bacterial Vaginosis. medRxiv, 2022-12.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.12.21.22283705
Ravel, J., & Brotman, R. M. (2016). Translating the vaginal microbiome: gaps and challenges. Genome medicine, 8, 1-3.]
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-016-0291-2
Ross, J.D.C., Brittain, C., Anstey Watkins, J. et al. Intravaginal lactic acid gel versus oral metronidazole for treating women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis: the VITA randomized controlled trial.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-023-02303-5
Rodríguez-Nava, C., Cortés-Sarabia, K., Avila-Huerta, M. D., Ortiz-Riaño, E. J., Estrada-Moreno, A. K., Alarcón-Romero, L. D. C., ... & Morales-Narváez, E. (2021). Nanophotonic sialidase immunoassay for bacterial vaginosis diagnosis. ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science, 4(1), 365-371.
DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00211
Saraf, V. S., Sheikh, S. A., Ahmad, A., Gillevet, P. M., Bokhari, H., & Javed, S. (2021). Vaginal microbiome: normalcy vs dysbiosis. Archives of Microbiology, 203, 3793-3802.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-021-02414-3
Secor, W. E., Meites, E., Starr, M. C., & Workowski, K. A. (2014). Neglected parasitic infections in the United States: trichomoniasis.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0723
Sobel, J. D., & Nyirjesy, P. (2021). Oteseconazole: an advance in treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Future microbiology, 16(18), 1453-1461.
https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb-2021-0173
Superti, F., & De Seta, F. (2020). Warding off recurrent yeast and bacterial vaginal infections: Lactoferrin and lactobacilli. Microorganisms, 8(1), 130.
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8010130
Wrønding, T., Vomstein, K., Bosma, E. F., Mortensen, B., Westh, H., Heintz, J. E., ... & Nielsen, H. S. (2023). Antibiotic-free vaginal microbiota transplant with donor engraftment, dysbiosis resolution, and live birth after recurrent pregnancy loss: a proof of concept case study. eClinicalMedicine.
Downloads
Posted
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Ashley Hurjak

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license