What is vaginal flora?

The vaginal flora, also known as the vaginal microbiome, is the collective term for the colonies of bacteria that live inside the vagina. A healthy, balanced vaginal flora is incredibly important for intimate health. Just like the gut, the vagina is home to billions of bacteria and other microorganisms; some good, some bad, and some ‘neutral’.

The types of bacteria found in the vaginal microflora will vary from individual to individual, but a healthy vaginal microbiome is made up mostly by a genus of bacteria called Lactobacillus. In fact, it is estimated that at least 95% of the average vaginal flora should be made up from the Lactobacillus genera of bacteria and predominantly the following species:

Lactobacillus Reuteri

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus

Lactobacillus Crispatus

Lactobacillus Gasseri

Lactobacillus Iners

Lactobacillus Jensenii

Not all the strains (types) within each of these genera and species of bacteria will be resident in the vagina. Some strains may prefer to live in the gut. Bacteria are classified according to their genus, species, and strain. Strains within each species may have very different properties, and therefore ‘live’ in different areas of the body.

Are all strains of bacteria the same?

For example, we know that some strains of Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus prefer to live in the gut, whereas the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1®, Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® and Lactobacillus paracasei F-19® strains prefer to live in the vagina.These three probiotic strains can be found in Sunulos® Probiotics For Women, which is suitable for anybody with a vagina. These, and the other strains of probiotic bacteria in the vaginal flora, work very hard to protect you against vaginal infections.

The importance of the vaginal microbiome

So how do friendly bacteria protect against vaginal infection? Let’s take a look.

• Production of  lactic acid.This function is what keeps the vagina's pH balance at a slightly acidic level and prevents the growth of yeast, bad bacteria and other pathogenic organisms which prefer a more alkaline environment. It is this function is why Lactobacilli have their name. Fun fact: the pH balance of a healthy vagina is around 4.5, which is the same as wine, tomatoes, and beer!
• Production of hydrogen peroxide and other substances which inhibit the growth of unfavourable or ‘pathogenic’ strains of bacteria and yeast. Anything that upsets the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome gives pathogens a chance to overgrow and cause intimate health infections.

Bad bacteria can grow in the vaginal flora for many reasons. Sexual intercourse, high-sugar diets, the use of perfumed body wash products, antibiotics and even stress are known as potential triggers - read on to find out more about these triggers below.  If the vaginal microbiome is disrupted and vaginal pH levels exceed 4.5, it becomes the ideal breeding ground for infections such as:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) - BV is the most common vaginal infection in those ages 15-44, with one in three individuals with a vagina thought to suffer from it at some time in their lives.
• Yeast infections, also known as thrush. These are typically caused by unfriendly yeasts from the Candida family.