The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters
The vaginal microbiota, a critical determinant of women’s health, is influenced by hormonal and metabolic parameters across the lifespan. While <i>Lactobacillus</i> species are beneficial markers of vaginal health, microbial composition undergoes pronounced alterations after menopause. T...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Yi-Chun Chen Yi-Fen Chiang Ko-Chieh Huang Kai-Lee Wang Yun-Ju Huang Tzong-Ming Shieh Mohamed Ali Shih-Min Hsia |
| author_facet | Yi-Chun Chen Yi-Fen Chiang Ko-Chieh Huang Kai-Lee Wang Yun-Ju Huang Tzong-Ming Shieh Mohamed Ali Shih-Min Hsia |
| author_sort | Yi-Chun Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The vaginal microbiota, a critical determinant of women’s health, is influenced by hormonal and metabolic parameters across the lifespan. While <i>Lactobacillus</i> species are beneficial markers of vaginal health, microbial composition undergoes pronounced alterations after menopause. This study aimed to elucidate the associations between vaginal microbiota composition, vaginal pH, menopausal status, and metabolic parameters in Asian women. Vaginal secretion samples were collected from 40 women (20 premenopausal, 20 postmenopausal). Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the microbiota, categorized into Community State Types (CSTs): CST-I + II (<i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i>/<i>gasseri</i>, protective), CST-III (<i>Lactobacillus iners</i>, neutral), and CST-IV (anaerobic bacteria, harmful). Vaginal pH and clinical data were assessed in relation to microbial profiles. CST distribution differed significantly by menopausal status and vaginal pH. Harmful-type CST-IV was more prevalent in postmenopausal women (70% vs. 40%, <i>p</i> < 0.05), while CST-III was dominant in premenopausal women (45% vs. 5%). CST-IV was associated with elevated pH (median 6.00, <i>p</i> = 0.026) and increased abundance of anaerobes including <i>Bacteroides</i>, <i>Fusobacterium</i>, <i>Porphyromonas</i>, <i>Prevotella</i>, and <i>Streptococcus</i>. Oral antibiotic use reduced both beneficial and harmful CSTs, shifting toward neutral CST-III (75%, <i>p</i> = 0.048). Use of sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in postmenopausal women was associated with a higher prevalence of protective CST-I + II (57.14% vs. 8.33%, <i>p</i> < 0.05), though no significant impact on pathogen presence was observed. This study highlights the dynamic interplay between menopausal status, metabolic interventions, and vaginal microbiota composition. Findings may inform targeted strategies to maintain vaginal health in aging populations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b91c7ca14c72441991ea8409503d767b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
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| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-b91c7ca14c72441991ea8409503d767b2025-08-20T02:21:04ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-06-01136131710.3390/microorganisms13061317The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic ParametersYi-Chun Chen0Yi-Fen Chiang1Ko-Chieh Huang2Kai-Lee Wang3Yun-Ju Huang4Tzong-Ming Shieh5Mohamed Ali6Shih-Min Hsia7School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, TaiwanSchool of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, TaiwanSchool of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, TaiwanSchool of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, TaiwanDepartment of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan City 710301, TaiwanSchool of Dentistry, College of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung 404333, TaiwanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USASchool of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 110301, TaiwanThe vaginal microbiota, a critical determinant of women’s health, is influenced by hormonal and metabolic parameters across the lifespan. While <i>Lactobacillus</i> species are beneficial markers of vaginal health, microbial composition undergoes pronounced alterations after menopause. This study aimed to elucidate the associations between vaginal microbiota composition, vaginal pH, menopausal status, and metabolic parameters in Asian women. Vaginal secretion samples were collected from 40 women (20 premenopausal, 20 postmenopausal). Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to characterize the microbiota, categorized into Community State Types (CSTs): CST-I + II (<i>Lactobacillus crispatus</i>/<i>gasseri</i>, protective), CST-III (<i>Lactobacillus iners</i>, neutral), and CST-IV (anaerobic bacteria, harmful). Vaginal pH and clinical data were assessed in relation to microbial profiles. CST distribution differed significantly by menopausal status and vaginal pH. Harmful-type CST-IV was more prevalent in postmenopausal women (70% vs. 40%, <i>p</i> < 0.05), while CST-III was dominant in premenopausal women (45% vs. 5%). CST-IV was associated with elevated pH (median 6.00, <i>p</i> = 0.026) and increased abundance of anaerobes including <i>Bacteroides</i>, <i>Fusobacterium</i>, <i>Porphyromonas</i>, <i>Prevotella</i>, and <i>Streptococcus</i>. Oral antibiotic use reduced both beneficial and harmful CSTs, shifting toward neutral CST-III (75%, <i>p</i> = 0.048). Use of sodium–glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in postmenopausal women was associated with a higher prevalence of protective CST-I + II (57.14% vs. 8.33%, <i>p</i> < 0.05), though no significant impact on pathogen presence was observed. This study highlights the dynamic interplay between menopausal status, metabolic interventions, and vaginal microbiota composition. Findings may inform targeted strategies to maintain vaginal health in aging populations.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1317vaginal microbiotamenopausevaginal pHcommunity state types (CSTs)16S rRNA sequencingmetabolic parameters |
| spellingShingle | Yi-Chun Chen Yi-Fen Chiang Ko-Chieh Huang Kai-Lee Wang Yun-Ju Huang Tzong-Ming Shieh Mohamed Ali Shih-Min Hsia The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters Microorganisms vaginal microbiota menopause vaginal pH community state types (CSTs) 16S rRNA sequencing metabolic parameters |
| title | The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters |
| title_full | The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters |
| title_fullStr | The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters |
| title_short | The Vaginal Microbiome: Associations with Vaginal pH, Menopause and Metabolic Parameters |
| title_sort | vaginal microbiome associations with vaginal ph menopause and metabolic parameters |
| topic | vaginal microbiota menopause vaginal pH community state types (CSTs) 16S rRNA sequencing metabolic parameters |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1317 |
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