Beneficial bacteria
Ideally we want to see a dominance of beneficial bacteria, over the other categories of bacteria. We have defined this as over 80%. It doesn’t matter if many strains of lactobacilus are present, or just one (which is most common), relatively high figures is what’s important.
These bacteria are acid producing and thereby help keep the environment free from pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Although it is most common to have lactobacillus as the dominant species, vaginal colonisation from bifidobacterium may absolve a protective role similar to that of Lactobacillus.1
If test results show relatively low, or no beneficial bacteria, we strongly recommend increasing intake of lactobacillus species, via foods, lactobacillus containing probiotics and / or prebiotics, and addressing any relevant overgrowth of opportunistic microbes. If lactobacillus iners is dominating, we encourage probiotics containing crispatus to introduce a stronger lactic acid producing strain.
To read more about Beneficial Bacteria on a Strain Level click here.
REFERENCE: 1. De Seta F, Campisciano G, Zanotta N, Ricci G, Comar M. The Vaginal Community State Types Microbiome-Immune Network as Key Factor for Bacterial Vaginosis and Aerobic Vaginitis. Front Microbiol. 2019 Oct 30;10:2451.
