The Vaginal Microbiome is made up of predominantly Lactobacillus species. These bacterial species are known as beneficial bacteria, as they help to maintain an acidic pH and protect against the overgrowth of opportunistic organisms.
When this microbial balance is disrupted through stress, antibiotics, hormonal shifts, sexual activity or hygiene practices, it can create the opportunity for less desirable microbes to take over and create symptoms like itching, irritation, change in discharge, odour, pain and more.
Often our minds go straight to thrush, as it’s one of the most commonly spoken about Vaginal infections, however, there are many other potential infections that can be impacting these symptoms. Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Aerobic Vaginitis (AV), Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma species, and even STIs are all things to consider. In fact, BV is much more common than thrush, and requires a really different treatment approach.
We utilise functional Vaginal Swabs, that provide us with a deeper overview on the Vaginal microbiome, so that we are able to provide really targeted treatment to the specific imbalances that show up.
As well, Naturopathic care focuses on restoring this microbial environment rather than just simply suppressing symptoms. This may include targeted probiotics, antimicrobial or antifungal herbal medicines where appropriate, nutritional support, and addressing contributing factors such as gut health, immune function and hormonal balance.
