Ensuring a healthy vaginal microbiome continues to gain importance in the treatment of infertility, and also in improving success rates of IVF treatments.
In an earlier post I wrote about the 2019 Dutch study that explored benefits of supplementing with probiotics in preparation for IVF/embryo transfer.
Lactobacilli strains of probiotics are associated with a healthy vaginal microbiome in women of reproductive age – helping to maintain an acidic environment that deters pathogenic organisms – and are also associated with better reproductive outcomes.
Now, a new Austrian study has looked into lactobacillus-containing probiotics and their specific role in containing the growth of Ureaplasma parvum (one of the most important players in causing bacterial vaginosis, or BV) in 80 patients with unexplained infertility. BV prevalence is significantly higher in infertile women compared to fertile women, and it significantly increases the risk of preclinical pregnancy loss.
Through vaginal sampling, the study showed that the probiotics showed a protective effect against ureaplasma and BV after four weeks of daily treatment using oral probiotics at 2g per day. The treatment contained four probiotic strains: Lactobacillus crispatus LBV88, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LBV96, Lactobacillus gasseri LBV150N and Lactobacillus jensenii LBV116.
This new study encouragingly shows the importance of restoring a healthy vaginal microbiota in the treatment of women suffering from infertility, including a protective element against BV infection.
I hope you have found this helpful, and do let me know if you have any questions!
If you are hungry for more evidence-based information for your fertility or pregnancy journey, visit www.myhealthypregnancyplan.com for free webinars and complete programs.
And if you are a care-provider looking for evidence-based resources for your fertility or pregnancy patients, please get in touch with us at support@myhealthypregnancyplan.com, or visit www.myhealthypregnancyplan.com/ce-courses-for-naturopathic-doctors.
In health,
Dr Jocelyn Land-Murphy, ND
Terra Life
Disclaimer: The information and content provided is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not professional medical advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute therefore. Please consult the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for full details.
References:
Schenk, M. et al. (2021). Effect of probiotics on the relative abundance of vaginal Ureaplasma parvum in women suffering from unexplained infertility. Reproductive BioMedicine Online.