Abstract
BackgroundLactobacillus species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women. In postmenopausal women with low oestrogen levels, Lactobacillus flora is diminishing or absent. However, no studies have been performed to investigate the correlation between oestrogen levels and the lactobacilli in the gut. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation in healthy women between vaginal and rectal microbial flora as well as possible variations with hormone levels.MethodsVaginal and rectal smears were taken from 20 healthy fertile women, average 40 years (range 28-49 years), in two different phases of the menstrual cycle, and from 20 postmenopausal women, average 60 years (range 52-85 years). Serum sex hormone levels were analyzed. Bacteria from the smears isolated on Rogosa Agar were grouped by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA and identified by multiplex PCR and partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.ResultsLactobacillus crispatus was more often found in the vaginal flora of fertile women than in that of postmenopausal (p = 0.036). Fifteen of 20 fertile women had lactobacilli in their rectal smears compared to 10 postmenopausal women (p = 0.071). There was no correlation between the number of bacteria in vagina and rectum, or between the number of bacteria and hormonal levels. Neither could any association between the presence of rectal lactobacilli and hormonal levels be found.ConclusionLactobacillus crispatus was more prevalent in the vaginal flora of fertile women, whereas the Lactobacillus flora of rectum did not correlate to the vaginal flora nor to hormonal levels.
Highlights
Lactobacillus species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women
Lactobacillus crispatus was more often found in the vaginal flora of fertile women than in that of postmenopausal (p = 0.036)
The colony forming units (CFU) bacteria per gram vaginal smear varied in fertile women from 8.3x104-1.8 ×
Summary
Lactobacillus species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women. Lactobacilli are non-spore-forming, gram-positive rods that form an important part of the normal human bacterial flora commonly found in the mucosa of the mouth [1,2,3], gastrointestinal (GI) tract [1,2,3,4] and female genitourinary tract [1,2,5,6] They are considered protective organisms required to maintain health by producing lactic acid and other metabolites inhibiting growth of pathogenic organisms [7]. The elevated glycogen level stimulates the growth of lactic acid-producing bacteria, especially Lactobacillus and Streptococcus [9] Those conditions are usually maintained during the fertile years in a healthy vagina and start to change during the menopause. The oestrogen level seems to be a determining factor for colonization of lactobacilli there is still not any convincing data [10]
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