The health of the vaginal and gut microbiome of pregnant women is increasingly recognized for its importance to the developing immune systems of the growing fetus, as well as for prevention of preterm birth and miscarriages.
Two new studies, from Spain and from the Netherlands, have shown that a healthy vaginal microbiome – particularly the presence of Lactobacillus species – also plays a role in successful conception, including with IVF. The Spanish study found that women who were successful with IVF tend to have a greater presence of lactobacillus, and the Dutch researchers found that dysbiosis (an imbalance of healthy and unhealthy vaginal flora) reduced successful early pregnancy development during IVF.
I have recent begun prescribing both oral and vaginal probiotics that are rich in lactobacillus species to my patients preparing for IVF, in hopes of increasing their chances of success. I am excited to see where this leads!
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 in your pregnancy, sign up for my free webinar: 7 Pregnancy Myths Debunked – and get the information you need to have a healthy pregnancy and a thriving baby.And if you are a care-provider looking for evidence-based resources for your pregnant patients, please get in touch with us at support@myhealthypregnancyplan.com.
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:
Bernabeu, A. et al. (2019). Effect of the vaginal microbiome on the pregnancy rate in women receiving assisted reproductive treatment. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 36(10): 2111-2119.
Singer, M. et al. (2019). The relation of the vaginal microbiota to early pregnancy development during in vitro fertilization treatment—A meta-analysis. Journal of Gynecology Obstetrics and Human Reproduction, 48(4): 223-229.