What Do Women Actually Know About Menopause? In a 2023 survey of 829 post-menopausal women, nearly 50% of respondents indicated that they felt ‘not informed at all’ about menopause. To make matters worse, 60% of respondents reported that they only began to search for information about menopause when they started experiencing symptoms. In Australia, the […]
What Is the Gut-Vagina Axis? You are probably familiar with the concept of the gut microbiome, and chances are if you’re reading this blog post, you are also familiar with the vaginal microbiome. But what about the link between the two? While the research is still very much in the early stages, more and more […]
Is Semen Really Sterile? There is virtually no part of the human body that is completely sterile — and this includes semen. As scientific technology has advanced, new culture-independent techniques (that don’t rely on being able to grow bacteria in a lab to detect their presence) have been used to investigate the male reproductive tract. […]
Throughout my years of clinical practice, I’ve observed fascinating connections between the body’s microbiome balance and overall health. One relationship that particularly stands out is how hormonal fluctuations can significantly impact microbial balance, especially when it comes to candida. Candida: Beyond Simple Yeast Infection Candida albicans naturally lives in our mouths, gut, and genital regions. […]
Bacterial vaginosis or aerobic vaginitis, what is the difference? Well, both are common vaginal conditions that can affect women of all ages, often causing discomfort and impacting reproductive health. In this quick overview, we’ll talk about the characteristics, severity scales, and clinical implications of BV and AV. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV): BV is a prevalent vaginal […]
At-Home Vaginal Microbiome Test The La biome vaginal microbiome test is an innovative at-home solution that allows women to gain valuable insights into the health of their vaginal microbiome. By understanding the importance of the vaginal microbe and how it affects overall health, women can take proactive steps to maintain a healthy and balanced ecosystem. […]
You want to test bacterial vaginosis without actually testing for bacterial vaginosis. I get it, sometimes you just don’t want to haul yourself to the doctor, let alone for something as private as your vaginal health. Besides you know what to expect by now, another round of oral or topical antibiotics/antifungals. They work for a […]
Endometriosis affects 1 in 9 Australian women. Management options range from over the counter pain medications, hormonal contraceptive pills or intra-uterine devices (IUD) to laparospic surgery or hysterectomy. Is it possible that the microbiome could hold some answers for women with endometriosis? The journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences The paper: Intricate Connections between the […]
Today’s paper is about the gut microbiome and how it ‘cross talks’ with the vaginal microbiome – amazing! The journal: Frontiers in Immunology The paper: Female Gut and Genital Tract Microbiota-Induced Crosstalk and Differential Effects of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Immune Sequelae (Sep 2020) The authors: Emmanuel Amabebe and Dilly O. C. Anumba Take-home points: […]
The vaginal microbiota – what is normal? Today we look at a recently published paper about the vaginal microbiota throughout women’s lives and what is considered ‘normal’. The journal: Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease The paper: The Vaginal Microbiome: I. Research Development, Lexicon, Defining “Normal” and the Dynamics Throughout Women’s Lives (Dec 2021) The […]