Short Wave The Importance Of The Vaginal Microbiome
May 16, 2022
Fatima Aysha Hussain, a postdoctoral research scientist at the Reagan Institute, dives into the fascinating world of the vaginal microbiome. She discusses how these microbes affect women's health and the potential for microbiome transplants to combat bacterial vaginosis. The conversation also emphasizes the importance of diversity within the vaginal microbiome compared to the gut and the emotional journeys of donors and recipients. Fatima advocates for women's empowerment in sexual health, highlighting innovative research that could change the future of healthcare.
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Vaginal vs. Gut Microbiome
- An optimal vaginal microbiome is low diversity, dominated by lactobacillus, which produces lactic acid.
- This acidic environment contrasts with the gut microbiome, where high diversity is beneficial.
Unhealthy Vaginal Microbiome
- An unhealthy vaginal microbiome, often highly diverse, is linked to higher susceptibility to STIs and preterm birth.
- It's not definitively unhealthy, as many with diverse microbiomes show no symptoms.
Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a diverse colonization of anaerobes, causing discomfort and odor.
- Affecting 30% of women globally, BV often reoccurs after antibiotic treatment.