Vaginal microbiota

The vaginal microbiome in healthy individuals is characterized by low bacterial diversity, which contrasts with the more diverse gut microbiome (Ravel et al. 2011 Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 108: 4680–4687; Collins et al. 2018 Appl Environ Microbiol 84: e02200-e02217). Studies have shown that a Lactobacillus-dominated community is prevalent in healthy vaginas. This dominance of Lactobacillus is crucial as it helps lower the vaginal pH to approximately 3.5 (O’Hanlon et al. 2013 PLoS ONE 8: e80074), creating an environment that is less conducive to disease. A higher vaginal pH is often associated with various health issues (Ravel et al. 2011 Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA…