If you are a female this blog is a must read. Your gut microbiome and the microbiome in your vagina can communicate with each other and influence each other’s health. If your gut microbiome is in a state of imbalance the microbes send messages which cause an imbalance to the healthy equilibrium of your vaginal health. This includes impacting the physiological, immunological, and metabolic functions of your vagina.
If your gut is in a state of imbalance, pro-inflammatory messages sent from your gut can negatively impact your ability to reproduce and increase the occurrence of diseases and disorders in your vagina such as aerobic vaginitis.
If the types of bacteria in your gut are out of balance in types or numbers, this can not only negatively affect the barrier function of your gut but also your vaginal wall. The imbalance can trigger an immune response in your body and the release of pro-inflammatory factors which, if present over the long term, can lead to disease states.
Around 44% of the bacteria species found in a woman’s rectum microbiome is also found in her vaginal microbiome. The amounts of these types of species are found in similar numbers in both microbiomes.
The vaginal microbiome and gut microbiome have five of the same bacteria phyla or the main bacterial lineages. These are Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria.
To look after the health of your gut and consequently your vagina your diet plays a key role. Aim to include a diverse range of plants each day in your meals and snacks. Plant foods include prebiotic fibre and polyphenols which are fuel to the microbes in your gut that support the health of your body. By including a diverse range of different types of plant foods you are feeding different types of microbes. This balance of healthy types and amounts of microbes is an essential component to the health of your gut microbiome and consequently your health.
A good lifestyle strategy can be to include at least 30 different plant foods each week. This can include wholegrains, nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Take home message: The connection between your gut and vaginal health is intricately linked. Your lifestyle choices including your diet heavily impact the health of your gut microbiome. For a healthy gut and vagina ensure that you are feeding your gut microbiome with the food sources it needs to keep both organs in optimal health.
References:
- Amabebe E, Anumba DOC. Female Gut and Genital Tract Microbiota-Induced Crosstalk and Differential Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Immune Sequelae. Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 10;11:2184. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02184. PMID: 33013918; PMCID: PMC7511578.
- El Aila NA, Tency I, Claeys G, Verstraelen H, Saerens B, Santiago GL, De Backer E, Cools P, Temmerman M, Verhelst R, Vaneechoutte MBMC Infect Dis. 2009 Oct 14; 9():167.
- Amabebe E, Robert FO, Agbalalah T, Orubu ESF
- Br J Nutr. 2020 May 28; 123(10):1127-1137.
- Kaur H, Merchant M, Haque MM, Mande SS. Crosstalk between female gonadal hormones and vaginal microbiota across various phases of women’s gynecological lifecycle. Front Microbiol. (2020) 11:551. 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00551
