Abstract

PROBIOTICS AS GUARDIANS OF FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

M. Kavitha, M. Lakshmi Divya, M. Poojitha, Dr. C. Bhargava Reddy*

ABSTRACT

Probiotics provide a promising choice for supporting and recovering reproductive health as well as function. These are the foods or the supplements containing nonpathogenic microbes, as bacteria and yeast, that colonize the gut and results in a variety of health benefits. Lactobacillus dominant vaginal microbiome is essential for protecting against many pathogenic infections, helps in maintaining optimal vaginal pH and also in reproductive outcomes. Imbalance in microbiota has been associated with conditions like bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, urinary tract infections, infertility, preterm birth and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Probiotics are the living organisms shows many benefits when administered in required amounts. As these show therapeutic and preventive strategy in reproductive health. Specific organisms like lactobacillus, bifidobacterium and saccharomyces shows mechanisms including competitive exclusion of pathogens,modulation of immune responses and increasing strength of epithelial barrier function. Many studies indicate that when probiotics are administered through oral or intravaginal route may reduce the recurrence of vaginosis, candidiasis and improve the pregnancy outcomes. This review explains about the role of probiotics by helping in the maintenance of female reproductive health, understanding the mechanism of action, present clinical evidence and future perspectives for specific microbiome-based therapies. The therapeutic applications of probiotics involve by; they decrease reoccurrence of bacterial vaginosis when uses with antibiotics. They also refresh vulvovaginal candidiasis by restoring normal flora and reduce fungal growth. They also help in the maintaining of healthy vaginal microbiota that improves implantation. They also help in pregnancy support by reducing risk of preterm labor.

Keywords: Probiotics, Female reproductive health, vaginal microbiota, Lactobacillus, Bacterial vaginosis, Symbiosis, Infertility, Preterm birth.