The Lactobacillus flora in vagina and rectum of fertile and postmenopausal healthy Swedish women
(2011) In BMC Women's Health 11(Article. nr 11).- Abstract
- Abstract
Background: Lactobacillus species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women. In
postmenopausal women with low oestrogen levels, Lactobacillus flora is diminishing or absent. However, no
studies have been performed to investigate the correlation between oestrogen levels and the lactobacilli in the
gut. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation in healthy women between vaginal and rectal
microbial flora as well as possible variations with hormone levels.
Methods: Vaginal and rectal smears were taken from 20 healthy fertile women, average 40 years (range 28-49
years), in two different phases of the menstrual cycle, and... (More) - Abstract
Background: Lactobacillus species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women. In
postmenopausal women with low oestrogen levels, Lactobacillus flora is diminishing or absent. However, no
studies have been performed to investigate the correlation between oestrogen levels and the lactobacilli in the
gut. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation in healthy women between vaginal and rectal
microbial flora as well as possible variations with hormone levels.
Methods: Vaginal and rectal smears were taken from 20 healthy fertile women, average 40 years (range 28-49
years), in two different phases of the menstrual cycle, and from 20 postmenopausal women, average 60 years
(range 52-85 years). Serum sex hormone levels were analyzed. Bacteria from the smears isolated on Rogosa Agar
were grouped by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA and identified by multiplex PCR and partial 16S rRNA
gene sequencing.
Results: Lactobacillus crispatus was more often found in the vaginal flora of fertile women than in that of
postmenopausal (p = 0.036). Fifteen of 20 fertile women had lactobacilli in their rectal smears compared to 10
postmenopausal women (p = 0.071). There was no correlation between the number of bacteria in vagina and
rectum, or between the number of bacteria and hormonal levels. Neither could any association between the
presence of rectal lactobacilli and hormonal levels be found.
Conclusion: Lactobacillus crispatus was more prevalent in the vaginal flora of fertile women, whereas the
Lactobacillus flora of rectum did not correlate to the vaginal flora nor to hormonal levels. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4779186
- author
- Gustafsson, Rita LU ; Ahrné, Siv LU ; Jeppsson, Bengt LU ; Benoni, Cecilia LU ; Olsson, Crister LU ; Stjernquist, Martin LU and Ohlsson, Bodil LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2011
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- BMC Women's Health
- volume
- 11
- issue
- Article. nr 11
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:80054048839
- pmid:21609500
- ISSN
- 1472-6874
- DOI
- 10.1186/1472-6874-11-17
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- da5816a0-7474-4665-94e2-3e4e677a6130 (old id 4779186)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 14:18:08
- date last changed
- 2023-09-03 12:35:21
@article{da5816a0-7474-4665-94e2-3e4e677a6130,
abstract = {{Abstract<br/><br>
Background: Lactobacillus species are the most often found inhabitants of vaginal ecosystem of fertile women. In<br/><br>
postmenopausal women with low oestrogen levels, Lactobacillus flora is diminishing or absent. However, no<br/><br>
studies have been performed to investigate the correlation between oestrogen levels and the lactobacilli in the<br/><br>
gut. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation in healthy women between vaginal and rectal<br/><br>
microbial flora as well as possible variations with hormone levels.<br/><br>
Methods: Vaginal and rectal smears were taken from 20 healthy fertile women, average 40 years (range 28-49<br/><br>
years), in two different phases of the menstrual cycle, and from 20 postmenopausal women, average 60 years<br/><br>
(range 52-85 years). Serum sex hormone levels were analyzed. Bacteria from the smears isolated on Rogosa Agar<br/><br>
were grouped by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA and identified by multiplex PCR and partial 16S rRNA<br/><br>
gene sequencing.<br/><br>
Results: Lactobacillus crispatus was more often found in the vaginal flora of fertile women than in that of<br/><br>
postmenopausal (p = 0.036). Fifteen of 20 fertile women had lactobacilli in their rectal smears compared to 10<br/><br>
postmenopausal women (p = 0.071). There was no correlation between the number of bacteria in vagina and<br/><br>
rectum, or between the number of bacteria and hormonal levels. Neither could any association between the<br/><br>
presence of rectal lactobacilli and hormonal levels be found.<br/><br>
Conclusion: Lactobacillus crispatus was more prevalent in the vaginal flora of fertile women, whereas the<br/><br>
Lactobacillus flora of rectum did not correlate to the vaginal flora nor to hormonal levels.}},
author = {{Gustafsson, Rita and Ahrné, Siv and Jeppsson, Bengt and Benoni, Cecilia and Olsson, Crister and Stjernquist, Martin and Ohlsson, Bodil}},
issn = {{1472-6874}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{Article. nr 11}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{BMC Women's Health}},
title = {{The Lactobacillus flora in vagina and rectum of fertile and postmenopausal healthy Swedish women}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-11-17}},
doi = {{10.1186/1472-6874-11-17}},
volume = {{11}},
year = {{2011}},
}