The vaginal microbiome and its significance

Seems like what happens in the gut can have an impact on the vaginal microbiota. 

The gut microbiota consists of a complex community of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that reside in the gastrointestinal tract. It plays a crucial role in digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune system regulation. Contrariwise to the importance of great diversity to maintain a healthy gut microbiota, the vaginal microbiome is in good condition when its diversity of microorganisms is low. These microorganisms include a wide number of bacteria like Lactobacillus species and a smaller number of fungi like Candida Albicans. Lactobacillus species are the beneficial and sovereign bacteria of the vaginal microbiome and their decrease along with the overgrowth of other bacteria like Atopobium vaginae or Gardnerella vaginalis or fungi species like Candida can cause infections. Vaginal infections can be asymptomatic in some women or be the reason for unusual vaginal discharge with an unpleasant smell, prodigy thickness or color, soreness, or itching in other women.

The gut and the vagina are connected through various physiological and immune system mechanisms, which can influence the composition and balance of bacteria in the vagina. This connection is known as the gut-vagina axis. If harmful bacteria from the gut enter the vaginal environment, they can disrupt the natural balance of bacteria and increase the risk of infections. Escherichia coli and Candida species for example that are expected to be found in gut microbiome can cause vaginal dysbiosis when they are translocated in the vaginal area. Potentially harmful bacteria and fungi from the gut can also reach the bladder causing urinary tract infections.

Hormones play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of the vaginal microbiota. The gut microbiota can influence hormone metabolism and modulation, which can subsequently affect the vaginal environment. For example, changes in estrogen levels can alter the pH of the vagina, creating an environment more or less favorable for certain bacteria.

There are suggestions that a healthy state of your gut microbiome works protectively for your vaginal microbiome too. Vaginal and gut microbiota seem to be similar concerning the Lactobacillus species. Recent studies support that when receiving probiotic bacteria and yeast by oral, the migration of probiotic microorganisms from the intestine to the vagina is allowed, which is a fact beneficial for vaginal health.

The composition of vaginal microbiota varies for every woman and can be affected by diet, drugs, stress, illness, and hygiene practices and also depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle. To maintain a healthy vaginal microbiota, it is important to support a balanced gut microbiota. This can be achieved through a healthy diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management, and avoiding excessive use of antibiotics, which can disrupt the gut microbiota. An unhealthy or unbalanced vaginal microbiome can be the cause of regular infections and even infertility issues but it can be not only modified directly but as it seems it can be also modified indirectly by acting on the gut microbiome. 

With the FemoScan® Comprehensive, the total microbial load, lactobacilli, and all of the anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms, mycoplasmas, and Candida fungi that may be involved in creating dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome are examined.