Just like your gut, your vagina is home to trillions of bacteria, mainly Lactobacillus, the helpful kind, whose job is to:
Keep your pH balanced (slightly acidic to fight off infection)
Stop thrush, BV and UTIs from taking over
Support fertility by protecting sperm and cervical fluid
Help maintain comfort, moisture and even sensitivity
In other words… a healthy vagina isn’t about being “clean” as we have lead to believe, it’s about being biologically balanced.
This isn't another blog to give you extra things to worry about or do, but education is key when it comes to women's health. If we know what disrupts the vaginal microbiome, we can make better informed decisions to protect ourselves. Most of us just know the usual "dont use fragranced or strong products in sensitive areas" but there is a lot more to it than that! The vaginal microbiome is highly reactive to:
Hormonal shifts (PMS, postpartum, peri/meno)
Sex (semen is alkaline, which temporarily raises pH)
Stress (cortisol can reduce Lactobacillus levels)
Antibiotics & the pill (they don’t just target the gut)
Over-washing or using scented products
Even tight or non-breathable underwear
So if you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a loop of recurring thrush, BV, dryness or discomfort, it may not be bad luck. It may be bacterial imbalance.
As you all know, (and I bang on about this every week) the needle is moving in womens health and experts are finally paying attention.
Industry leaders like Dr Megan Rossi, aka The Gut Health Doctor, is studying and releasing products designed specifically to nourish and protect the vaginal microbiome.
Yes, microbiome science has officially gone from stomach to cervix. And this is genuinely groundbreaking, because for too long, women’s intimate health has been treated as either hygiene or infection management, rather than preventative care.
I’m interviewing Dr. Megan Rossi next week, and I want your questions.
What have you never had answered properly about discharge, dryness, thrush, BV, sex, peri/menopause, or just vaginal normality?
DM us on insta and I’ll ask her for you.
Because if the vaginal microbiome is finally going mainstream…
Let’s make sure real women’s voices are the ones driving the conversation.
Leah x
