Health The composition of vaginal bacteria varies depending on origin
The composition of bacteria and yeasts in the vagina is more diverse than previously assumed. However, many questions about this so-called vaginal microbiome are still unanswered, emphasized an international research team with Swiss participation.
06.02.2025, 17:00
SDA
This plays a decisive role in women's health, the researchers wrote in the report, which was published on Thursday in the journal "Trends in Microbiology". "Women's bodies and knowledge about their health have been neglected, controlled and tracked for centuries, leading to health inequalities that persist to this day," the research team continued.
For the report, the researchers led by Sarah Lebeer from the University of Antwerp in Belgium compiled findings from almost 100 years of research on the vaginal microbiome. The research team also included Monica Ticlla from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (TPH).
Women from poor countries underrepresented
Lactobacillus bacteria have long been considered the key to a healthy vaginal microbiome. These bacteria produce lactic acid, which inhibits the growth of harmful germs and thus prevents infections.
However, the reality is far more complex, according to the report. A considerable proportion of healthy women worldwide do not have large amounts of Lactobacillus species. Women of African and Latin American descent are more likely to have low levels of these bacteria than women of European and Asian descent.
However, women from low- and middle-income countries are underrepresented in research. Most studies on the vaginal microbiome focus on women in high-income countries, particularly in Europe and North America. According to the research team, this leads to a distorted view and an incomplete understanding of the global diversity of the vaginal microbiome.
Further research into the vaginal microbiota is essential, the researchers wrote in the report.
