There are more than 50 kinds of microorganisms (including aerobic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria) living in the vagina of healthy women, and it is also a microbial ecology. Aerobic bacteria include: vaginal bacillus (dominant), corynebacterium, non-hemolytic streptococcus, enterococcus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Gardnerella. Anaerobic bacteria include Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, etc. In addition, there are Mycoplasma and Candida. The microbes in the vagina are dominated by lactobacilli, which account for 90%-95% of the total microbes. Commonly isolated lactobacilli in the vagina of healthy women include Lactobacillus fragilis (L.crispatus), Lactobacillus jensenii (L.jensenii), Lactobacillus gasseri (L.gasseri), Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus vaginalis.
These flora in the vagina form a balanced ecology. When the body's immunity is low, changes in endocrine levels or some external factors (tissue damage, sexual intercourse, etc.) disrupt this micro-ecological balance, the harmful bacteria in these resident flora will break through the vaginal mucosal barrier and cause infection. Currently, 1 billion women worldwide suffer from vaginal and urethral discomfort.
Although both are Lactobacillus, there are some differences between Lactobacillus in vagina and Lactobacillus in digestive tract. First of all, the number of vaginal lactobacilli is far less than that of intestinal lactobacilli, and the number of bifidobacteria is not as large as in the intestinal tract. Secondly, it is more obvious that many
probiotics that colonize the intestine cannot colonize the vaginal mucosa. The most important point is that the intestinal probiotics must have a strong tolerance to gastric acid, bile and pancreatic secretions in order to reach the intestine and play a probiotic effect. But when the smear or infusion method is used to maintain the balance of the vaginal flora, there is no need to have a strong tolerance to gastric acid, bile and pancreatic secretions. The general acid-producing Lactobacillus can play a certain role, in addition, oral probiotic yogurt and other products can also reduce vaginal infections.
The normal acidic environment in the vagina is maintained by these lactobacilli. Acidity can inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. The most practical significance of lactobacilli in the vagina is the production of antibacterial substances such as hydrogen peroxide or bacteriocins. This can prevent and treat various infections (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and yeast infections) and inflammation (such as bacterial vaginitis). Vagina is one of the main ways of HIV transmission. Certain probiotics produce antibacterial substances that can kill HIV virus, which can hinder the spread of AIDS. A number of clinical studies have shown that eating Lactobacillus acidophilus yogurt can reduce vaginal yeast infections.
Vaginitis is a local manifestation of vaginal flora imbalance. Intravaginal disinfection and anti-inflammatory drugs are a misunderstanding. The reason is that while these drugs kill pathogenic bacteria, they also kill the normal vaginal flora that has a self-cleaning effect, so only temporary relief can be achieved. Due to the loss of the protection of the normal flora, a new round of infection soon appeared, resulting in prolonged repetition. There are four common inflammations: an increase in the proportion of staphylococci leads to bacterial vaginitis; an increase in the proportion of chlamydia leads to chlamydial vaginitis; the appearance of trichomonas in the vagina leads to trichomonas vaginitis; the appearance of mold in the vagina leads to fungal vaginitis. There are also multiple infections.
Vaginitis caused by Candida albicans (a kind of fungus) infection is a relatively common one, which is characterized by vaginal secretions that cause intense itching and burning. It has long been recognized that pouring yogurt can kill fungi that remind of infection. Under healthy conditions, Lactobacillus vaginalis converts glycogen into lactic acid, keeping the pH value of the vagina between 4.0 and 4.5, which effectively inhibits the growth and reproduction of Candida and other harmful bacteria. Once the beneficial bacteria lose their advantage and cause the balance of the vaginal flora to be imbalanced, Candida will multiply and cause fungal infections. Anaerobes can increase thousands of times, and the ratio of anaerobes to aerobes can reach 100:1 to 1000: 1.
Probiotics have been used to replace traditional therapies. The main mechanism of probiotics in the treatment of BV is to reconstruct the vaginal microbial environment. Common probiotics include L. reuteri RC-14, L.fermentum, L. gasseri, L. rhamnosus GR-1, L. acidophilus, and L. crispatus. Clinical trials have shown that these probiotics can play a positive role in restoring vaginal microecology and treating BV. Probiotics also avoid the abuse of antibiotics, which can cause drug-resistant bacteria to appear. Probiotics have no side effects and have great value in this application. In obstetrics and gynecology, Lactobacilli species are mainly used to restore the physiologic vaginal microbiota in order to treat bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and prevent preterm birth. Creative Enzymes provides high-quality
female vaginal health formula for academic and industrial use.