Vaginal flora

Further information: List of microbiota species of the lower reproductive tract of women
Lactobacilli and a vaginal squamous cell

Vaginal flora, vaginal microbiota or vaginal microbiome are the microorganisms that colonize the vagina. They were discovered by the German gynecologist Albert Döderlein in 1892[1] and are part of the overall human flora. The amount and type of bacteria present have significant implications for an individual's overall health.[2] The primary colonizing bacteria of a healthy individual are of the genus Lactobacillus,[3] such as L. crispatus, and the lactic acid they produce is thought to protect against infection by pathogenic species.[4]

  1. ^ David M (April 2006). "Albert und Gustav Döderlein – ein kritischer Blick auf zwei besondere Lebensläufe deutscher Ordinarien" [Albert and Gustav Döderlein -- a critical view to the biographies of two German professors]. Zentralblatt für Gynäkologie (in German). 128 (2): 56–9. doi:10.1055/s-2006-921412. PMID 16673245. S2CID 77926816.
  2. ^ D'Ippolito S, Di Nicuolo F, Pontecorvi A, Gratta M, Scambia G, Di Simone N (December 2018). "Endometrial microbes and microbiome: Recent insights on the inflammatory and immune "players" of the human endometrium". American Journal of Reproductive Immunology. 80 (6): e13065. doi:10.1111/aji.13065. PMID 30375712. S2CID 53114757.
  3. ^ Vásquez A, Jakobsson T, Ahrné S, Forsum U, Molin G (August 2002). "Vaginal lactobacillus flora of healthy Swedish women". Journal of Clinical Microbiology. 40 (8): 2746–9. doi:10.1128/JCM.40.8.2746-2749.2002. PMC 120688. PMID 12149323.
  4. ^ Witkin SS, Linhares IM, Giraldo P (June 2007). "Bacterial flora of the female genital tract: function and immune regulation". Best Practice & Research. Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 21 (3): 347–54. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2006.12.004. PMID 17215167.