By now, we all must have heard the words, “human microbiome” or “microbiota,” and how they relate to our health. We know we have a gut microbiome, but did you know we also have a vaginal microbiome? In fact, our body is home to more microbes than our own cells, and although our microbiome can change and be shared, it is unique to us. If things go awry with our vaginal microbiome, it has been shown to cause problems for our reproductive and genitourinary health AND our overall health. The vaginal or gut microbiome becoming unbalanced isn’t the only cause of issues down there, but if our microbial balance does get out of whack, immune defenses can be affected, and problems can occur.
Let’s talk about the vaginal microbiome
In health science circles, the microbiome refers to the organisms, the metabolic products of their activities, and their structures and environments, and generally refers to the microbes in and on our whole body. The term microbiota refers to the genetic mix of all living organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.) in a certain area, e.g., the gut, vagina, or mouth. The vaginal microbiota, unique to each of us, communicates amongst itself, with other areas of our body’s microbiome, and with our cells. It tends not to change too much throughout our monthly cycle unless we become unhealthy or radically change our inputs—diet, living environment, intimate contacts, stress, hygiene, or pre- and post-menopause. The vaginal microbiome is healthiest when it has relatively low diversity and is dominated by a large number of Lactobacillus species.
Why is a balanced vaginal microbiota important for health?
A healthy vaginal microbiota supports a woman’s immune function in the genitourinary tract. It acts as a barrier for the vaginal wall through its sheer number of helpful microbes and by stimulating the production of protective vaginal mucus. It produces lactic acid and other defense substances to stop the proliferation of harmful microbes. but the ability of many other species and strains to cohabitate and work together is crucial. When other, problematic bacteria or fungi start to dominate, and/or there is a decrease in beneficial lactobacilli, we can experience a number of very unpleasant outcomes.
The Number of Very Unpleasant Outcomes…
An altered vaginal microbiota has been associated with bacterial or yeast overgrowth and urinary tract and reproductive immune and fertility issues. These things can pass unnoticed in some women or cause itchiness, irritation, discomfort, and/or unpleasant vaginal discharge.
Why might the vaginal microbiota become unbalanced?
Because of the relatively short distance of the anus from the vagina, it is much easier for potentially troublesome microbes from the gut to translocate, causing imbalances in the urinary tract and vagina. This can happen even if a harmful migrating microbe is part of a stable and balanced microbiota in the colon. Additionally, the vagina can become exposed to foreign microbes through having sex or when hygiene is insufficient. Using too much in the way of perfumed or chemical-rich hygiene products can unbalance the microbiota, as can the use of antibiotics—many of us have experienced a yeast overgrowth after taking them!
The health of the gut microbiome can affect the vaginal microbiome. Studies have shown that pesticides like glyphosate can adversely affect key microbial species in the gut with knock-on effects throughout the body. Additionally, the consumption of refined sugar and sweeteners can upset the microbial balance in the mouth, gut, and urinary tract. Stress and lack of appropriate sunlight can also disrupt eubiosis (balanced microbiome). An increase in oestrogens, especially in situations such as pregnancy, where oestrogens are elevated for longer periods, can promote the production of glycogen, a food source for yeasts. Glycogen is essential, but when the microbiota is already a little unbalanced…
What helps our vaginal microbiome?
Anything that helps your whole-body microbiome will support the vaginal microbiome. Eating the right foods—animal foods and their fats and collagen, with fermented foods and the plant foods you enjoy—is a good place to start. Appropriate amounts of exercise help balance the microbiota and support the microbiome. Sunlight exposure and getting into nature support microbial balance. Even sharing microbes with our animals can help. Gardening and getting a bit dirty helps, too. Rather than trying to kill microbes, we need to learn to live in harmony with them, so less of the anti-germ attitude and more of the live-and-let-live attitude may be required.
Can oral probiotics support vaginal health?
Studies are now being done on how specific strains of beneficial bacteria can support vaginal health via the gut. Probiotic bacteria can support a balanced microbiota in the gut and in the genitourinary tract by providing colony-forming units of well-researched Lactobacillus strains that have been shown to migrate from the gut to the vagina.
Introducing: Good Health Pro Flora Care
Good Health Pro Flora Care is a scientifically studied formulation of 5 probiotic strains to support a healthy immune response in the female genito-urinary system. An ecologically stable vaginal microbiome is generally identified by a high level of Lactobacillus species. Lactobacillus strains play an important role in the support of genital immune and functional issues by supporting the vaginal pH and microbial balance via their postbiotic output, which makes the environment inhospitable for some harmful microorganisms, and by outcompeting other bacteria.
A colony-forming unit (CFU) estimates the number of viable microbial cells that are able to multiply and colonise the appropriate tissue. Pro Flora Care contains at least 12 billion total CFUs of highly researched Lactobacillus strains: L. rhamnosus GR- supports a balanced vaginal microbiota and gut lining integrity; reuteri RC-14 supports a healthy immune response and yeast/flora balance; gasseri LG-G12 supports vaginal pH and crowding out of harmful microbes; high-strength acidophilus LA-G80 supports female reproductive and digestive health, plus microbial balance in the vaginal and urinary tract; and crispatus LC-G22 supports a stable microflora. These 5 strains have been found to be specific to the female genito-urinary system, supporting the crowding out of “bad” microbes and a balanced vaginal microbiome.
Good Health Pro Flora Care is designed to support a healthy vaginal microflora and pH balance throughout the monthly cycle, while also supporting reproductive, digestive, and overall health and wellbeing.
Pro Flora Care Supports:
- Balanced vaginal pH
- Healthy vaginal microflora and yeast balance
- Urinary tract health
- Beneficial microbial colonies
- Healthy fertility
- Reproductive, gut, and overall health
If you are at all concerned with any part of your vaginal health, please see your GP or connect with a natural health professional to personalise your diet, lifestyle, and supplements.
For detailed information about female health, please see the articles in the Women’s Health Series:
Ancestral Wisdom for Female Hormonal Health, Part 1
Ancestral Wisdom for Female Hormonal Health, Part 2
The 3 Ms and the Female Hormonal Life Cycle, Part 1 – Menarche
The 3 Ms and the Female Hormonal Life Cycle, Part 2 – Menstruation
The 3 Ms and the Female Hormonal Life Cycle, Part 3 – Menopause
TAPS Approval No: PP2949
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