We have all heard the buzz about our gut microbiome by now, but have you also heard about the importance of your vaginal microbiome?!
Why the Vaginal Microbiome is so Important to Women's Health:
The vaginal microbiome is the complex ecosystem of microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that live inside the vagina (aka the vaginal microbiota or vaginal flora).
Although you may have never heard of the vaginal microbiome, it plays a major role in your reproductive and overall health. An imbalanced vaginal microbiome is associated with infertility, pregnancy complications, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and possibly even cancer.
The gut microbiome may influence certain aspects of vaginal and reproductive health; it has been shown to help modulate the metabolic pathways of many organs and help support reproductive homeostasis. I'm sold, and if I was on my fertility journey again- this would be a no brainer.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV):
BV is the most common type of vaginal dysbiosis and is characterized as a vaginal dysbiosis involving a reduced amount of hydrogen peroxide producing Lactobacilli and an increase in anaerobic bacteria, allowing pathogenic bacteria to start to take over. It is the most prevalent vaginal disease in reproductive‑aged women, so why are vaginal probiotics not the first line of defense when you enter a fertility clinic?
We have the science! We know the incidence of BV is associated with a greater risk of urogenital infections, preterm birth, miscarriage, infertility, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
In one population study of pregnant individuals with and without BV, hydrogen peroxide‑producing Lactobacilli were found in only 5% of pregnant women with BV, as compared to 61% with normal flora.
Vaginal Dysbiosis can Cause Many Complications:
Evidence suggests that vaginal colonization by L. crispatus and L. jensenii has been associated with a lower incidence of BV. The composition of the vaginal microbiome is critical for helping to decrease the risk of certain gynecological infections and for the prevention of the overgrowth of certain bacteria and yeast.
Certain hydrogen peroxide‑ and lactic acid‑producing Lactobacilli strains have been shown to help maintain the vaginal microenvironment by helping to support a normal pH and the production of biosurfactants and bacteriocin‑like chemicals.
Lactobacilli may also help support normal systemic and local acute inflammatory responses and help inhibit the expression of certain pro‑inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑1β, and tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α).They may also help support epithelial cell tight junctions and the production of endothelial growth factor to help promote tissue healing. Great four women with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, and Endometriosis.
Certain species in the Bifidobacterium genus have been observed in individuals with concurrent Chlamydia trachomatis and tubal infertility.
Changes in the vaginal microflora have been observed in certain disorders related to the menstrual cycle; with changes in estrogen and progesterone levels potentially affecting the vaginal microbial composition. Lower levels of Lactobacillus spp. have been observed in individuals with polycystic ovarian syndrome.
A BV Study:
Preliminary laboratory studies in certain cell lines indicate that Lactobacilli may also help support the body’s response to certain viral loads including herpes simplex virus‑2 (HSV‑2) and human papillomavirus (HPV). A double‑blind, randomized, controlled clinical pilot study investigated the potential efficacy of a yogurt drink containing 1 billion CFU each of the four strains of Lactobacillus found in ASTARTE™ on 36 women with a stable menstrual cycle or menopause diagnosed with BV and treated for 7 days with metronidazole.
The treatment group received the yogurt drink twice daily for 4 weeks. At the study terminus, 100% of individuals in the treatment group were free from BV, as opposed to 65% in the placebo group.
Benefits to Probiotics:
Gut and Mood Health Animal and clinical studies indicate that probiotics may support gastrointestinal function and a healthy immune response.
Probiotics have been shown to support a healthy repopulation of intestinal flora after antibiotic use. A systematic review and meta‑analysis reported strong evidence to support probiotic administration in the attenuation of the effects of antibiotic‑associated diarrhea in both pediatric and adult populations.
Probiotics may also help protect the intestinal barrier, create unfavorable conditions for certain pathogens, and competitively inhibit pathogenic activity. Studies indicate that probiotics as adjunctive agents may help support the attenuation of certain pathogens such as Helicobacter pylori.
Brain/Mood Benefits:
Clinical studies indicate that probiotic administration may help promote a gut microbial composition and may help support the body’s response to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Probiotics may influence mood health and neurological and brain function through many different pathways including neural, metabolic, neuroendocrine, and immune.
Probiotics may also support the production of neurotransmitters, a healthy inflammatory response, and healthy brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. In addition, metabolites of microbes such as short‑chain fatty acids (SCFAs) can play an important role in many aspects of human health and the gut‑brain axis.
What Vaginal Probiotic Can I Trust?
ProbioMed™ Women from Designs for Health! It is a targeted formula designed to help support vaginal and gastrointestinal (GI) microbial balance. It provides a dairy‑free clinically relevant serving of 25 billion colony‑forming units (CFUs) featuring ten highly‑researched probiotic strains to help promote optimal vaginal and GI Health. DFH is been making science backed formulas for 30 years, with therapeutic dosing based on clinical research. They are third party tested for purity and potency and GMP Certified, and they are the leading Practitioner Preferred Brand.
-GI microbial balance and motility
-A normal immune response
-Brain health/a healthy mood
-Vaginal microbial balance and comfort
This formula features 5 billion CFUs of ASTARTE™, a proprietary blend of four unique strains typically found in a healthy vaginal microbiome to help support a balanced vaginal microbial population.
This information is provided as a medical and scientific educational resource for the use of physicians and other licensed health‑care practitioners ("Practitioners"). This information is intended for Practitioners to use as a basis for determining whether to recommend these products to their patients. All recommendations regarding protocols, dosing, prescribing, and/or usage instructions should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient considering their medical history and concomitant therapies. This information is not intended for use by consumers.