Lactobacillus, Anaerococus, Peptoniphilus, Corynebacterium, Prevotella, Megasphera… Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? But did you know that your vagina plays a courteous host to these microorganisms? Before you judge them too harshly, let’s give them a fair trial - there is a guard keeping them in check.
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Lactobacillus, Anaerococus, Peptoniphilus, Corynebacterium, Prevotella, Megasphera… Sounds intimidating, doesn’t it? But did you know that your vagina plays a courteous host to these microorganisms? Before you judge them too harshly, let’s give them a fair trial - there is a guard keeping them in check.
When you look around your neighbourhood, who do you see? The lovely family across the street, the cool guy, the kind elderly lady bent into her walker, the friendly neighbour who brings over cake every other day, and the occasional rude person.
Our neighbourhood is full of different people, yet we manage to live together in harmony, most of the time, despite the ever-changing nature of human interactions. In a similar way, your vagina is home to trillions of bacteria and has its own unique community of microorganisms, known as the vaginal microbiome.
The microbial community in the human vagina exists in a symbiotic and friendly relationship with the host, meaning they coexist harmoniously under normal conditions. So, the short answer is a resounding YES. However, this community is also dynamic, undergoing fluctuations due to several factors such as natural hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and menopause, but also due to contraceptive use, sexual activity and more.
Thanks to sophisticated modern technology that identifies microbial species, we now know the vagina is home to a diverse and complex microbiome. Previously, the human vagina was thought to contain only Lactobacilli (LAB) species, but studies have shown the presence of many other species, including Gardnerella, Streptococcus, Anaerococcus, Peptoniphilus, Corynebacterium, and more - all commonly found in healthy vaginas.
Similarly, Candida species, particularly Candida albicans, were found to be present in 20-30% of healthy women, and can also be considered normal. The MVP here is the Lactobacilli species, which play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy vaginal environment, by producing lactic acid, which helps sustain the optimal pH and inhibits the growth of harmful microorganisms.2 Research shows that a vagina with fewer Lactobacillus species compared to other microorganisms, is more likely to develop bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Based on the community of microorganisms prevalent in the vagina, five Community State Types (CSTs) have been identified: I, II, III, IV & V (read more in the info box). CSTs I, II, III and V are dominated by Lactobacilli species and CST IV entail a diverse community of bacteria that exist exclusively in an oxygen depleted state .3
To exemplify, CSTs dominated by Lactobacillus species (I, II, III, V) are generally linked to a healthy vaginal environment. On the other hand, CST IV, with its diverse bacterial community and reduced Lactobacillus presence, is associated with conditions like BV, preterm birth, and a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
This intricate ecosystem underscores the importance of balance - when the microbiome is in harmony, the vagina remains healthy and resilient.
We now know that the star of the show is Lactobacilli, the friendly bacteria that work tirelessly to keep things in balance. These guardians produce lactic acid, creating a slightly acidic environment with a pH of 3.8–4.5, which is ideal for keeping harmful microbes at bay.
But these guardians don’t just lower the pH which is pleasant. In a competition for nutrients, Lactobacilli also outcompete other microbes, leading to their starvation and eventual death. Additionally, Lactobacilli produce bacteriocins, proteins that act like tiny weapons to inhibit or even destroy the growth of pathogenic bacteria and certain fungi, including those microorganisms resistant to antibiotics.4 Furthermore, Lactobacilli release soluble components that prevent other microorganisms from adhering to the vaginal wall, keeping the environment protected.
In short, Lactobacilli acts like a security guard in your “neighbourhood”, protecting the vagina from conditions such as bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Understanding the dynamics of the vaginal microbiota is crucial for distinguishing between what's normal and what may signal a potential issue. Knowing that your vaginal microbiome is a complex, ever-changing hood that requires a mix of good bacteria to keep things running smoothly, it should come as no surprise that bad bacteria take over the microbiome, leading to a state called “Dysbiosis”. This can lead to conditions like BV or a yeast infection, and what exactly happens here is outlined in our article “Vaginal Dysbiosis: When the Balance Gets Thrown Off”.
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