{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T14:09:35Z","timestamp":1791468575140,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":156,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,23]],"date-time":"2023-01-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1674432000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Microorganisms"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The vaginal microbiome is a dynamic, sensitive microenvironment. The hallmark of a \u2018healthy\u2019 vaginal microbiome is currently believed to be one dominated by Lactobacillus spp., which acidifies the vaginal environment and help to protect against invading pathogens. However, a \u2018normal\u2019 microbiome is often difficult, if not impossible, to characterise given that it varies in response to numerous variables, including pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, contraceptive use, diet, ethnicity, and stress. A Lactobacillus-depleted microbiome has been linked to a variety of adverse vaginal health outcomes, including preterm birth (PTB), bacterial vaginosis (BV), and increased risk of sexually transmitted infections. The latter two of these have also been associated with feminine intimate hygiene practices, many of which are practised without any evidence of health benefits. The most extensively studied practice is vaginal douching, which is known to cause vaginal dysbiosis, predisposing women to BV, pelvic inflammatory disease, and PTB. However, little is known of the impact that intimate hygiene practices and associated products have on the vaginal microbiome. This review aims to outline the major factors influencing the vaginal microbiome and common vaginal infections, as well as to summarise current research surrounding the impact of hygiene products and practices on the vaginal microbiome.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms11020298","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,24]],"date-time":"2023-01-24T01:29:45Z","timestamp":1674523785000},"page":"298","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":129,"title":["The Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Disease\u2014What Role Do Common Intimate Hygiene Practices Play?"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7499-3346","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alexandra M.","family":"Holdcroft","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Demelza J.","family":"Ireland","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2308-3561","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Matthew S.","family":"Payne","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Western Australia, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3793","DOI":"10.1007\/s00203-021-02414-3","article-title":"Vaginal microbiome: Normalcy vs dysbiosis","volume":"203","author":"Saraf","year":"2021","journal-title":"Arch. 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