Probiotics in the Prevention and Treatment of Postmenopausal Vaginal Infections: Review Article.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review without systematic methodology or primary data
PubMed 29354612 · doi:10.6118/jmm.2017.23.3.139
What was done
This narrative review summarizes the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying postmenopausal vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), resulting from estrogen depletion and examines the role of probiotics in their prevention and treatment.
What was found
The abstract reports no quantitative data, odds ratios, or risk estimates. It qualitatively describes how postmenopausal estrogen decline reduces Lactobacillus species, elevates intravaginal pH, and facilitates colonization by pathogens including Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Candida, and Gardnerella. It reports that probiotics support beneficial microflora proliferation, alter intravaginal microbiota composition, and reduce clinical symptoms such as vaginal discharge and odor.
Why it matters
It outlines the biological rationale for using probiotic lactobacilli to restore vaginal barrier function and acidity in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women.
Limits
The abstract describes a non-systematic narrative review providing no primary clinical trial data, sample sizes, specific probiotic strains or dosages, or quantified treatment effect sizes.
Cited by
- supports Estrogen increases glycogen production in the vaginal canal, which feeds Lactobacilli that produce lactic acid to maintain vaginal pH.