What is the vaginal microbiota?
Vaginal flora is something you've probably heard of, right? The vaginal microbiota describes the same thing, i.e. the collection of bacteria that live and perform essential functions in the female genital area. Most of these bacteria are of the Lactobacillus genus and are responsible for preventing the proliferation of harmful microorganisms.
Does semen have a semen microbiota?
Yes, semen also contains a collection of non-pathogenic bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, etc. This flora is called seminal microbiota.
What happens if my vaginal microbiota changes and can it affect my fertility?
As we have explained, the function of the vaginal flora is protective. If the concentration of Lactobacillus decreases and the concentration of other species increases, an imbalance of the vaginal microbiota occurs, which is known as vaginal dysbiosis in medical terms. The most common is bacterial vaginosis and, yes, it can lead to a decrease in female fertility. Dysbiosis affects endometrial receptivity, that is, the ability of the endometrium to interact with the embryo for implantation to take place. For this reason, an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota may be the underlying cause of failed implantation and/or miscarriage.
Does vaginal flora affect in vitro fertilisation treatments?
There is currently a significant literature on in vitro fertilisation and vaginal microbiota. Studies suggest that women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments with bacterial vaginosis have a lower pregnancy rate. Stated another way, a balanced vaginal flora, characterized by a higher presence of Lactobacillus and a low concentration of other bacteria, is associated with better reproductive outcomes after IVF treatment. Specifically, dysbiosis may affect two phases of IVF: ovarian stimulation and embryo transfer.
Probiotic treatment: Yes or no?
Probiotics are supplements of different strains of Lactobacillus that help the female reproductive tract to repopulate. These supplements are recommended when there is an alteration of the vaginal flora. Through these supplements the vaginal microbiota balance is restored, which improves the outcomes of both natural conception and assisted reproduction treatments.
Did you know the importance of the vaginal microbiota on fertility and the benefits of probiotics?