Vaginal Microbiome

The vaginal microbiome refers to the bacterial communities present in the female reproductive tract; a healthy vaginal microbiome is characterized by resilience and stability and resilience, whereas an unstable microbiome could be prone to invasion by pathogenic bacteria and dysbiosis.

What is Vaginal Microbiome?

The groundbreaking sequencing of the human genome was announced in 2001. It was undoubtedly a historical achievement in human biology and medicine; however, it gave us only a partial blueprint of our species. The studies of human microbiota (i.e. the communities of microorganisms that populate human body) and microbiome (i.e. the combined genetic profile of all those microorganisms) hold a promise of completing that blueprint.

Vaginal Microbiome Variation and Bacterial Vaginosis

Vaginal Microbiome and Premature Birth

Vaginal Microbiome During Pregnancy

Vaginal Microbiome and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Vaginal Microbiome and Gynecological Cancer

Latest Vaginal Microbiome News and Research

Vaginal bacteria linked to premature birth

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology in April 2020 reports that women who deliver early are more likely to have a greater variety of bacteria in their birth canals. The research also highlights specific bacteria that are associated with premature birth. This knowledge could help design tests to screen for high-risk pregnancies.

8 Apr 2020

First human vaginal non-redundant gene catalog released

University of Maryland School of Medicine's Institute for Genome Sciences researchers have created the first catalog of genes that comprise the community of microbes, which inhabit the human vagina.

26 Feb 2020

Non-hormonal options are effective in treating menopause symptoms

The classic symptoms of menopause – hot flashes, sleeplessness, and vaginal dryness – have typically been treated with estrogen therapy. Studies published today report that non-hormonal options are effective, too.

24 Jan 2020

Alterations in environmental factors may contribute to endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in the U.S. and the fourth most common cancer among women.

16 Dec 2019

Vaginal fluid transplant could help treat recurring bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is a common and irksome problem for many women. Now researchers have found the transplanting vaginal fluids of a healthy woman to women with troublesome bacterial vaginosis could restore the bacterial microbiome in the latter’s vaginas and thus help treat them.

8 Oct 2019

New model for vaginal microbiome transplantation

Bacterial vaginosis is a condition affecting thousands of women worldwide, and is associated not only with vaginal symptoms but with pregnancy-related complications including preterm labor and stillbirth. Now researchers have come up with an effective way to replace the unhealthy vaginal microflora with a ready-to-use microbiome – called a vaginal microbiome transplantation (VMT).

11 Sep 2019

Study shows how cervicovaginal microbiome can elicit resistance to chlamydia

The vaginal microbiome is believed to protect women against Chlamydia trachomatis, the etiological agent of the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in developed countries.

13 Aug 2019

LUCA Biologics develops live biotherapeutics for unmet medical needs in women's health

LUCA Biologics, a biotechnology company co-founded by Dr. Jacques Ravel, announced today it will develop live biotherapeutics for widespread, unmet medical needs in women's health. Ravel will serve as LUCA's Chief Scientist.

6 Aug 2019

Initial findings from the Human Microbiome Project sparked ‘hundreds of subsequent studies’

Three long-term HMP studies provide comprehensive tracking of the changes that occur in the microbiome in response to human disease.

30 May 2019

Vaginal microbiome composition linked to preterm birth risk in African-American women

A research project funded by the National Institutes of Health has identified differences in the vaginal bacteria that may raise the risk of preterm birth among pregnant African-American women.

30 May 2019

Low vitamin D associated with potentially harmful vaginal bacteria in pregnant black women

Vitamin D, sometimes known as the sunshine vitamin, has long been known to be important for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant mothers take vitamin D supplements to ensure their own health and that of their unborn child.

29 May 2019

Gut bacteria and pregnancy

Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have found that with pregnancy there is a change in the composition of gut bacteria in women. This could be associated with the changing hormonal status they speculate. The results of their study titled, “Progesterone Increases Bifidobacterium Relative Abundance during Late Pregnancy,” were published in the latest issue of the journal Cell Reports.

17 Apr 2019

Certain bacteria and immune factors in vagina may cause or protect against preterm birth

Seven types of bacteria and certain immune factors in a woman's vagina and cervix may be responsible for increasing the risk of spontaneous preterm birth or protect against it, according to a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

22 Mar 2019

Study finds diverse mix of bacteria in the urine of kidney disease patients

The urine of kidney disease patients contains a diverse mix of bacteria such as Staphylococcus and Streptococcus, according to a study by researchers at Loyola Medicine and Loyola University Chicago.

4 May 2018

Researchers to study whether menstrual cups can help prevent vaginal infections

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago will conduct a study to determine how the use of menstrual cups helps prevent vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections.

20 Feb 2018

Microbiome research offers new clues to increased HIV risk in women

Drawing from data collected for years by AIDS researchers in six African nations, scientists have pinpointed seven bacterial species whose presence in high concentrations may significantly increase the risk of HIV infection in women.

27 Jan 2018

New study finds certain bacterial species may increase HIV risk in women

In a recent study, scientists have identified seven species of vaginal bacteria that may significantly increase the risk of HIV infection in women.

26 Jan 2018

Certain bacterial species may increase HIV risk in women, finds new study

In a recent study, scientists have identified seven species of vaginal bacteria that may significantly increase the risk of HIV infection in women.

26 Jan 2018

Study uncovers millions of previously unknown genes in human microbiome

A new study of the human microbiome- the trillions of microbial organisms that live on and within our bodies- has uncovered millions of previously unknown genes from microbial communities in the human gut, skin, mouth, and vaginal microbiome, allowing for new insights into the role these microbes play in human health and disease.

20 Sep 2017

Researchers highlight role of micro-guests in pathologic processes

We host more microbiota than our own cells. These micro-guests produce metabolites that are only beginning to be appreciated as important factors in pathologic processes, from chronic inflammatory diseases to preterm birth.

1 Aug 2017