<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>There is a direct correlation between the vaginal microbiome and the health of a woman’s reproductive system. The microbiome is mainly composed of lactic acid rods – <italic>Lactobacillus</italic>, the metabolism of which ensures an acidic pH, playing a protective role for vaginal homeostasis. One of the typical disorders of homeostasis is bacterial vaginosis, defined as predominance of group IV CST system bacteria (comprising different genera characterized by anaerobic metabolism), which is an essential problem of the female population all over the world. The maintenance of this homeostasis can be restored by medicinal preparations. In addition to well-known antibiotics aimed at inhibiting the development of bacterial pathogens, probiotics and products that promote the development of beneficial microbiota are increasingly used. It seems more relevant not to cure, but to prevent imbalance of homeostasis. For this purpose, women use different washing and care techniques of external genitalia. Women’s everyday practices also include the use of washing preparations from the group of cosmetics; however, little is known about their impact on the microbiota. These products potentially constitute an element of early prevention, which is highly beneficial for female health. The main controversial type of ingredients are cleaning surfactants, which can lead to disruption of the epidermal barrier and to breakthrough of pathogens.</p>
</abstract>

There is a direct correlation between the vaginal microbiome and the health of a woman’s reproductive system. The microbiome is mainly composed of lactic acid rods – Lactobacillus, the metabolism of which ensures an acidic pH, playing a protective role for vaginal homeostasis. One of the typical disorders of homeostasis is bacterial vaginosis, defined as predominance of group IV CST system bacteria (comprising different genera characterized by anaerobic metabolism), which is an essential problem of the female population all over the world. The maintenance of this homeostasis can be restored by medicinal preparations. In addition to well-known antibiotics aimed at inhibiting the development of bacterial pathogens, probiotics and products that promote the development of beneficial microbiota are increasingly used. It seems more relevant not to cure, but to prevent imbalance of homeostasis. For this purpose, women use different washing and care techniques of external genitalia. Women’s everyday practices also include the use of washing preparations from the group of cosmetics; however, little is known about their impact on the microbiota. These products potentially constitute an element of early prevention, which is highly beneficial for female health. The main controversial type of ingredients are cleaning surfactants, which can lead to disruption of the epidermal barrier and to breakthrough of pathogens.

The influence of intimate hygiene on vaginal microbiota and health

Student Scientific Society at the Chair and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze

Medical University of Silesia in Katowice

Chair and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze

Postępy Higieny i Medycyny Doświadczalnej

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The influence of intimate hygiene on vaginal microbiota and health"}

There is a direct correlation between the vaginal microbiome and the health of a woman’s reproductive system. The microbiome is mainly composed of lactic acid...

The influence of intimate hygiene on vaginal microbiota and health

Article Category: Review

Publié en ligne: 09 avr. 2024

Pages: 37 - 44

Reçu: 14 juil. 2023

Accepté: 13 févr. 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2024-0003

Mots clés
Lactobacillus, vaginal microbiome, vaginal hygiene, intimate washes, bacterial vaginosis

© 2024 Justyna Długosz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The influence of intimate hygiene on vaginal microbiota and health

Article Category: Review

Publié en ligne: 09 avr. 2024

Pages: 37 - 44

Reçu: 14 juil. 2023

Accepté: 13 févr. 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ahem-2024-0003

Mots clésLactobacillus, vaginal microbiome, vaginal hygiene, intimate washes, bacterial vaginosis

© 2024 Justyna Długosz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
Lactobacillus, vaginal microbiome, vaginal hygiene, intimate washes, bacterial vaginosis