The entire surface of the human skin and mucous membranes is colonized by numerous useful microorganisms. The natural flora develops soon after birth, mainly from the mother’s germs transmitted to the newborn. In the almost sterile vagina of the little girl, the vaginal flora is formed during the first weeks of life, from skin and intestinal germs. Age and physical development are factors that influence the formation and composition of the vaginal environment. Approximately 100 million germs can be detected in one milliliter of vaginal secretion from a healthy adult woman. The vagina is home to more than 200 species of lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli), which have an important protective function.
Healthy vaginal flora
The activity of the beneficial microorganisms present in a balanced skin flora is intended to defend the area against potentially harmful germs and prevent their spread. When the microbiological balance is intact, pathogenic bacteria or fungi are not completely absent from the skin, but they do not find sufficiently good conditions to multiply at leisure and thus cause an infection. In the vagina, it is mainly the lactic acid bacteria (lactobacilli) that are responsible for ensuring effective defense mechanisms against pathogens thanks to their specific metabolic functions. Lactobacilli use sugar that is stored in the vaginal cells under the influence of estrogen. They transform glycogen into lactic acid and thus create an acidic vaginal environment with a pH between 3.8 and 4.4. Some strains of lactobacilli also produce hydrogen peroxide. The oxygen released has a disinfectant and oxidizing effect and, combined with the high acidity of the environment, repels unwanted pathogens.
Imbalances in the vaginal environment
Pathogens reach the vagina in different ways. They enter the vagina through the skin, from the anal region and during sexual intercourse. When the microbiological balance of the vaginal flora is intact, the spread of pathogens is blocked, which limits the risk of infections. If the number of lactic acid bacteria in the vagina decreases significantly, the environment becomes less acidic, which deprives the vaginal environment of its effective defense mechanism. The causes of a decrease in the number of lactic acid bacteria in the vaginal flora are not clearly established medically.
However, it is assumed that certain risk factors play a role in the decrease in the number of lactobacilli.
Lactic acid bacteria develop under the influence of estrogen. In a woman’s life, the secretion of this sex hormone is subject to natural variations, which occur periodically during the menstrual cycle or are linked to age (e.g. at the beginning of the menopause). A drop in estrogen levels thus has a negative impact on the growth of lactic acid bacteria and can lead to their reduction. Medications such as antibiotics that are used to treat infections over a long period of time or cytostatics that inhibit cell growth as part of cancer treatment can also compromise the growth of lactic acid bacteria in the vagina.
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Medical evidence suggests that frequent changes in sexual partners may pose risks to the health of the vaginal environment. Excessive hygiene measures, such as the use of cosmetics, bath products or strongly scented deodorants, are harmful to the beneficial microorganisms of the vaginal flora.
Stress, worries and anxieties that weigh on daily life can also disrupt the fragile microbiological balance of the vaginal environment. When the vaginal flora loses its defenses due to the decline of lactic acid bacteria, pathogenic microorganisms take advantage of the opportunity to spread. Among the germs at the origin of gynecological affections, we can cite:
- pathogenic bacteria, mainly of the species Gardnerella vaginalis, which are involved in the development of bacterial vaginosis;
- the microscopic yeast Candida albicans, responsible for vaginal mycosis;
With symptoms such as itching, increased discharge, burning and pain during urination or sexual intercourse, these two infections are very detrimental to well-being. Whether it’s bacterial vaginosis or vaginal thrush, health professionals at a pharmacy, drugstore or doctor’s office can diagnose the condition so that appropriate medication can be initiated to treat the infection. An online self-diagnosis can help determine the symptoms and quickly get an initial assessment of the situation. In addition, probiotics can be used to accompany the treatment and help restore a healthy microbiological balance in the vaginal environment.
Action of probiotics:
Probiotics are products that contain live micro-organisms. Their contribution compensates for inadequate colonization of the skin flora. Probiotics can work in different areas of the body. They have a positive effect on the intestinal function, support the immune system and contribute to the reconstitution of the vaginal flora. Probiotics are particularly suitable as an adjuvant treatment for vaginal infections, in case of persistent microbiological imbalance.
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