Shuba S. S., Sidashenko O. I.

COMPOSITION OF THE VAGINAL MICROBIOME AND ITS EFFECT ON REPRODUCTIVE FUNCTION IN WOMEN

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About the author:

Shuba S. S., Sidashenko O. I.

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LITERATURE REVIEWS

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Scientific article

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The vaginal microbiome is a complex and dynamic microbial ecosystem of the female reproductive tract, which plays an important role in maintaining local homeostasis, protecting the mucous membranes from colonization by potentially pathogenic microorganisms, and forming a favorable environment for reproductive processes. In women of reproductive age, the vaginal microbial community is mainly characterized by the dominance of representatives of the genus Lactobacillus, among which Lactobacillus crispatus, L. gasseri, L. iners and L. jensenii are of particular importance. Disruption of the stability of the microbial composition, accompanied by a decrease in the representation of lactobacilli and an increase in the proportion of anaerobic microorganisms, is considered as vaginal dysbiosis and may be associated with a number of adverse consequences for reproductive health. The article summarizes the results of modern studies on the interaction of the vaginal microbiota with the reproductive system. It was found that the predominance of L. crispatus is more often associated with a stable acidic microenvironment and more favorable conditions for maintaining microbial homeostasis, while dysbiotic profiles are characterized by an increased representation of Gardnerella, Atopobium, Prevotella, Sneathia, Megasphaera and other anaerobic microorganisms. It was shown that the structure of the vaginal microbiome can change depending on hormonal status, phase of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, use of contraceptives, antibacterial therapy and other biological and external factors. The generalization of the research results indicates an association of dysbiotic changes with female infertility, early pregnancy loss, preterm birth and some adverse outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. At the same time, the role of individual microorganisms, in particular L. iners, remains ambiguous, and the available data mainly demonstrate associative relationships and do not allow us to unambiguously establish causal mechanisms. A promising direction is the use of vaginal microbiome characteristics as potential biomarkers of reproductive health and predicting the results of reproductive treatment. The data obtained indicate the importance of the vaginal microbiome for maintaining reproductive homeostasis and justify the need for further prospective and randomized studies to clarify causal mechanisms, identify the most informative microbiome markers and develop personalized approaches to correct dysbiotic disorders.

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Bibliography:

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Publication of the article:

«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine», 2026 Issue 3, 182, 154-161 pages, index UDC 618.15-002

DOI:

10.29254/2077-4214-2026-3-182-154-161