Probiotics for my WHAT?
If you have been perusing your health food shop shelves for years, you won’t be surprised by this, but for those of you who are being targeted by ever more popular ads via social media, you might be wondering why on earth you might want probiotics that support your vaginal flora. That’s right, it isn’t just your gut that has its own microbiome, your vagina has one too.
Today we’ll be exploring the following:
What is the vaginal microbiome and why it’s important for health
What can disrupt the balance of our vaginal microbiome
How our vaginal microbiome protects against infections
What signs to look for that might indicate an imbalance
How you can maintain a healthy vaginal microbiome
What is the Vaginal Microbiome?
I’m so glad you asked! The vaginal microbiome is the eco-system of bacteria and fungi that naturally occur in the vaginal canal. Whereas in the gut, we want a lot of diversity in the microbiome, in the vagina, it is a different story. There are very specific families of bacteria we want to see in abundance and they’re predominantly lactobacillus species. A healthy microbiome maintains an acidic pH, through bacterial by-products, which prevents the overgrowth of problematic organisms. The eco-system of the vagina has a significant impact on general health, reproductive health and conditions like endometriosis.
What Can Disrupt the Vaginal Microbiome?
We have lots of factors that can influence the balance of our vaginal eco-system.
Antibiotics – mainly those with non-specific action in the body as these will wipe out beneficial bacteria as well as the pathogens that we are taking them for.
Hormonal changes – menstruation, pregnancy and perimenopause/menopause. Hormonal shifts in the body impact the microbiome as certain bacteria have an affinity for oestrogen. In menstruation we experience a pH change as well as the iron content of menstrual blood influencing the Lactobacillus levels.
Sexual activity –among other things we can consider the influence of your partner’s microbiome, if your partner is male, the pH of semen can impact the vaginal microbiome, spermicide on certain barrier contraception methods can impact your flora as well.
Hygiene products – fragranced soaps and douches can wreak havoc on bacterial balance.
Diet + Stress – as with our gut bacteria, our food choices and stress hormones have a big impact on the vaginal microbiome
Tight, non-breathable clothing – in the words of Blu Cantrell (and Sean Paul) let it breathe
Certain medications – As well as previously mentioned antibiotics hormonal birth control and anti-fungals can also disrupt the balance of the vaginal microbiome
How Does the Vaginal Microbiome Protect Against Infections?
A balanced microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining health. The balance of bacteria and fungi work together to provide an ongoing ideal environment in the following ways:
The maintenance of an acidic pH: The by-products of most of the bacteria are lactic acid which maintains a pH of between 3.8 to 4.5. This inhibits the growth of harmful organisms and this pH balance creates a hospitable environment for the Lactobacilli species to thrive.
Antibacterial compounds: As well as lactic acid, which is antibacterial, the lactobacillus species also produce hydrogen peroxide and anti-bacterial compounds called bacteriocins. These protect the environment from the growth of pathogenic bacteria.
Beneficial flora crowd out problematic organisms: The presence of healthy levels of beneficial flora compete for resources and space with disease-causing organisms, which is protective.
Modulates local immune response: The vaginal microbiome exerts an influence on the type and function of immune cells in the mucosa and cell wall of the vagina
How do I Know if There is an Imbalance in my Vaginal Flora?
These are the signs and symptoms that might indicate that your vaginal microbiome needs some attention and support, please note that if you’re experiencing any of the below symptoms, please do mention to your GP or primary care physician have a swab and check for infection:
Unusual discharge – this could be a change in colour, consistency or amount
A strong and/or unpleasant odour
Itching or irritation
Burning sensation
Frequent confirmed infections
pH changes (detected via self-test kit or vaginal microbiome test)
How to Maintain a Healthy Vaginal Microbiome:
Avoid unnecessary antibiotics – if you suspect you do have an infection, make sure you have had a swab to confirm the pathogen causing your symptoms
Don't douche or use harsh intimate products – there are some lovely natural and organic brands available. As a general rule, only use soap on regions that have pubic hair but do not use internally
Wear breathable cotton underwear
Change out of tight and sweaty workout clothing as soon as possible after you’ve finished working out
Practice safe sex – choose products that do not irritate the microbiome e.g. Hanx condoms, Yes Organic lubricant
Consider probiotic supplementation that supports the vaginal microbiome with researched strains e.g. Invivo and Optibac
Stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet
Wash sex toys after use – they can develop their own bacterial biofilm that could be contributing to symptoms
What to do if the above is not getting you the results that you’re looking for
If you are experiencing repeat issues and you are not able to get an improvement through working with your GP. You might want to consider vaginal microbiome testing to identify what might be contributing to the imbalances that you’re experiencing. There are test kits that are sent to you at home that help to identify whether your bacteria or fungi are contributing to symptoms. Depending on your results a practitioner can put together some specific recommendations for you and your body.
There are differences in healthy vaginal microbiomes between individuals and you can experience a lot of shifts depending on where in the menstrual cycle you are as well as different life stages.