Probiotics as a Preventive Strategy for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Reproductive health
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal condition with high recurrence rates globally.
• Current antibiotic treatments for BV have limitations, leading to a need for alternative therapies.
• Recurrent BV significantly impacts women's quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a narrative review of bacterial vaginosis (BV).
• To examine the latest evidence on the efficacy of probiotics in preventing BV recurrence.
• To identify recently studied probiotic strains and administration routes for BV management.

Main Methods:

• Literature search for recent studies on BV and probiotics.
• Narrative synthesis of evidence regarding probiotic effectiveness.
• Focus on specific probiotic strains and delivery methods.

Main Results:

• Probiotics show promise as an adjunct or alternative to antibiotics for BV prevention.
• Specific probiotic strains and administration routes are being investigated for optimal efficacy.
• Further research is needed to establish definitive treatment protocols.

Conclusions:

• Probiotics represent a potential strategy to combat recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
• Evidence suggests certain probiotic interventions may help restore vaginal microbiota balance.
• Future research should focus on clinical trials to validate probiotic efficacy and safety for BV recurrence prevention.