This blog is brought to you in collaboration with ScreenMe
The Link Between the Vaginal Microbiome and Pelvic Health
Your vaginal microbiome is like a well-trained security team, working 24/7 to keep things balanced, healthy, and irritation-free. When it’s in top shape, it fends off infections, supports immune function, and even plays a role in pelvic floor strength. But when it’s out of whack? That’s when unwanted guests (like bacteria that shouldn’t be there) can cause trouble, leading to everything from recurrent infections to weakened pelvic muscles.
While we often hear about the importance of gut health, the vaginal microbiome deserves just as much attention. Emerging research suggests that the bacterial balance in the vagina isn’t just about preventing infections, it may also influence pelvic organ prolapse (POP), incontinence, and overall pelvic floor resilience. In other words, taking care of your vaginal microbiome might be one of the best things you can do for your pelvic health.
So, let’s break it down: what exactly is the vaginal microbiome, how does it impact your pelvic floor, and what can you do to keep everything in harmony?
The Vaginal Microbiome: Your Pelvic Health’s First Line of Defense
The vaginal microbiome is an ecosystem of bacteria, mostly made up of Lactobacillus species, that maintains a slightly acidic environment (around a pH of 3.8–4.5). This acidity helps keep harmful bacteria and yeast from taking over, reducing the risk of infections like bacterial vaginosis (BV), yeast infections, and even urinary tract infections (UTIs).
But this ecosystem is delicate, and a range of factors, like hormonal shifts, stress, antibiotics, diet, and even excessive vaginal washing, can throw it off balance. When that happens, inflammation can increase, the risk of infections goes up, and, as researchers are now discovering, the pelvic floor may be affected too.
A 2023 study found that people with lower levels of Lactobacilli and greater bacterial diversity were more likely to experience pelvic organ prolapse. This suggests that the vaginal microbiome isn’t just a bystander in pelvic health, it might play an active role in keeping the pelvic floor strong and resilient.
Meet Your Pelvic Floor: The Muscle Group Holding Everything Together
If your pelvic floor were an employee, it would be the director of multitasking. This hammock-like group of muscles supports your bladder, uterus, and bowel while also playing a major role in sexual function, continence, and overall core stability. When it’s strong, you likely don’t think about it much, but when it weakens, you might start experiencing:
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP): When the pelvic organs lose support and start to shift downward. It can feel like a heaviness or bulging sensation in the vagina.
- Incontinence: That “whoops” moment when you sneeze, cough, or laugh too hard. (Because no one wants to play surprise sneeze roulette.)
- Vaginal Laxity: A feeling of looseness in the vagina, which can affect both physical comfort and sexual well-being.
What Can Weaken the Pelvic Floor?
Several factors can contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction, many of which also affect the vaginal microbiome. It’s a two-way street, where changes in one system can influence the other. Some of the biggest culprits include:
🔹 Hormonal Changes: Estrogen fluctuations, especially during menopause, postpartum, or while using certain contraceptives, can reduce Lactobacillus levels, impacting both the microbiome and pelvic muscle strength.
🔹 Childbirth: Vaginal deliveries (especially with prolonged labour or large babies) can stretch and weaken the pelvic floor muscles.
🔹 Chronic Straining: If you’re frequently constipated, lifting heavy weights incorrectly, or coughing a lot (hello, seasonal allergies!), you’re putting extra pressure on these muscles.
🔹 Excess Weight: Carrying extra weight increases strain on the pelvic floor, raising the risk of prolapse and incontinence.
The Microbiome-Pelvic Floor Connection: Why It Matters for Treatment
Most treatments for pelvic organ prolapse, like pessaries or surgery, focus on structural support. While these can be highly effective, they don’t address the underlying vaginal microbiome imbalance that may contribute to the problem.
This is why a holistic approach to pelvic health, one that considers both muscle function and microbial balance, may be key for long-term wellness. Strengthening the pelvic floor while also maintaining a healthy vaginal microbiome could improve both recovery and prevention efforts.
How to Support Your Vaginal Microbiome and Pelvic Floor
The best news? You don’t have to overhaul your life to make meaningful improvements. Small, intentional habits can go a long way in keeping your microbiome and pelvic floor in top shape.
1. Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor with Targeted Exercises
Kegels are the classic go-to, but they’re not the only option. Engaging in pelvic floor physical therapy, Pilates, or yoga can help strengthen and support these muscles. Not sure if you’re doing Kegels correctly? A pelvic health specialist can guide you.
2. Support Your Vaginal Microbiome Naturally
A healthy vaginal microbiome thrives when given the right conditions. Some ways to maintain balance include:
- Probiotic supplementation: Consider vaginal or oral probiotics with Lactobacillus strains to support microbial health.
- Diet and hydration: Foods rich in fiber, antioxidants, and fermented goodness (like yogurt, kimchi, and sauerkraut) can help your gut and vaginal microbiomes flourish.
- Go easy on the cleansers: Your vagina is self-cleaning. Douching or using harsh soaps can disrupt its natural bacterial balance. Stick to warm water or gentle, pH-balanced products if needed.
- Be mindful of antibiotics: While sometimes necessary, antibiotics wipe out good bacteria along with the bad. If you need them, consider pairing with probiotics to help restore balance.
The Future of Pelvic Health: A Whole-Body Approach
The connection between the vaginal microbiome and pelvic floor health is still being explored, but one thing is clear: these systems don’t work in isolation. Addressing pelvic health means looking at the whole picture, muscle strength, microbial balance, lifestyle, and beyond.
Whether you’re here to prevent issues, manage symptoms, or just better understand your body, know this: your health matters, and you deserve science-backed, stigma-free support. Your vaginal microbiome and pelvic floor are working hard for you every day. Show them some love, and they’ll return the favor.
ScreenMe is the UK’s leading provider of next-generation microbiome testing dedicated to reproductive and pelvic health. Founded by Cambridge-trained molecular biologist Dr. Golnoush Golshirazi and Dr. Lukasz Ciszewski, ScreenMe uses cutting-edge NGS technology to deliver personalised insights that support fertility, prevent infections, and optimise hormonal and pelvic wellness.
Driven by a personal mission to transform the women’s health landscape, ScreenMe combines science-backed diagnostics with expert guidance, empowering individuals to take control of their reproductive health through precision medicine and holistic, data-informed care.
