{"id":96605,"date":"2025-05-24T09:37:40","date_gmt":"2025-05-24T08:37:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/?post_type=condition&p=96605"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:46:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T14:46:06","slug":"vaginal-microbiome","status":"publish","type":"condition","link":"https:\/\/www.herbalreality.com\/condition\/vaginal-microbiome\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaginal microbiome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The vaginal microbiome is an intricate and complex ecosystem. Maintaining microbial balance within the vaginal microbiome is key to supporting vaginal and reproductive health.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding the vaginal microbiome<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>
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\"Vaginal<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The vagina is lined with up to 40 layers of mucosal tissue, which are constantly producing new cells. These cells are integral as they are responsible for protecting the vagina against friction, providing adequate nourishment for the microbiome, and attaching themselves to unfavourable microbes to eliminate them as the cells are sloughed off and replaced. It is these mucosal layers that are home to the vaginal microbiome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vaginal microbiome is made up of a diverse microbial colony of bacteria, viruses and fungi that live symbiotically within the human body and on the vaginal mucosa. These microbes form an integral part of the innate immune system and contribute to the healthy balance of microbial homeostasis within the body. Less than desirable microbes, often referred to in popular literature as \u2018bad bacteria\u2019, can cause conditions such as bacterial vaginosis (BV), thrush or candida (caused by an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans<\/em>), aerobic vaginitis and less commonly, mollicutes and cytolytic vaginosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, the vaginal microbiome is able to look after and maintain itself without too much intervention. General rules to follow include avoiding tight, synthetic clothing; when washing, only use soap on areas that would naturally have hair growing. This means washing the vulva with water only, and avoid washing or douching inside the vagina as it can disrupt the vaginal microbiome (1).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How does the vaginal microbiome work?<\/h2><\/path><\/svg><\/div>
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The bacteria of the vaginal microbiome are the first line of defence against infections by ensuring that \u2018bad\u2019 or unfavourable microbes do not take hold. Some of the most helpful and well-known bacteria that make up a large percentage of the vaginal microbiome in health are the gram-positive Lactobacillus<\/em> species. This species of bacteria feed on glycogen which is made by the vaginal mucosal cells under the influence of oestrogen. These cells also produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide which keeps the vaginal environment at the acidic pH of between 3.8\u20134.5. It is this process  that keeps pathogenic microbes that may enter the vaginal space under control (2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lactobacilli<\/em> also bind to the mucosa of the vaginal walls and help stop pathogenic microbes from taking hold and inhabiting the vaginal space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The four main species of Lactobacilli <\/em>in <\/em>the vaginal microbiome are <\/p>\n\n\n\n