Your vaginal microbiome might not get much attention, but it plays a huge role in your overall health. This delicate ecosystem of bacteria keeps your vagina healthy and protected from infections – but it’s all about striking a balance.
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Your vaginal microbiome might not get much attention, but it plays a huge role in your overall health. This delicate ecosystem of bacteria keeps your vagina healthy and protected from infections – but it’s all about striking a balance.
Your vaginal microbiome might not get much attention, but it plays a huge role in your overall health. This delicate ecosystem of bacteria keeps your vagina healthy and protected from infections – but it’s all about striking a balance.
In this article, we’ll explain all you need to know about the vaginal microbiome: the key bacteria involved, why lactobacilli are the real heroes, how to tell if your microbiome is healthy, and exactly why that balance is so important.
Your vaginal microbiome is a community made up of trillions of bacteria that live inside your vagina. While the word “bacteria” might sound scary, these microorganisms are both normal and essential.
A healthy vaginal microbiome works in harmony with your body, maintaining a careful balance between ‘helpful’ and ‘harmful’ bacteria, to keep infections at bay. But it’s not a static system, your microbiome is super sensitive to changes. Whether it’s hormonal fluctuations, lifestyle habits, or external factors: your vaginal microbiome is always adapting to try and protect your health.
Recent research has revealed that the vaginal microbiome is far more complex than we once thought. Modern technology can now identify multiple microbial species, even to their strain level. Some of the most common types include:
There’s still plenty of work to do when it comes to understanding the vaginal microbiome, but scientists have now characterized the vaginal microbiome by different “community state types” (CSTs) or “vaginotypes” based on the type of bacteria that dominates the vaginal microbiome:
Lactobacilli are the unsung heroes of vaginal health. In a healthy state, they constitute up to 80% of the vaginal microbiome. These friendly bacteria act like security guards, working hard to maintain balance and protect against infections.
Here’s how they do it:
Without enough lactobacilli, the vaginal microbiome becomes unbalanced, making infections like BV, thrush, and STIs more likely.
The bacteria in your vaginal microbiome are sensitive to change. Lots of different factors can influence your bacterial balance, including:
When your vaginal microbiome is balanced and healthy, you probably won’t notice much at all – it’s business as usual!
Signs of a balanced microbiome include:
The biggest sign of an imbalanced microbiome is that you’re experiencing symptoms of vaginal discomfort such as abnormal/excessive discharge, foul smell, itching, burning sensation or pain. This means your microbiome is unable to fight off the symptom-causing microbes.
When harmful bacteria take over the microbiome, reducing the number of good lactobacilli, it enters a state called “Dysbiosis”, aka imbalance.
This can lead to infections such as:
If you suspect you might have an imbalance, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for support.
Your vaginal microbiome is a dynamic system that plays a crucial role in your overall health. By understanding how it works and what impacts it, you can take steps to support this important ecosystem.
Remember: a healthy vaginal microbiome isn’t just about avoiding infections. It’s about creating a resilient, protective environment that supports your health.
