Skip to main content
About the Institute
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • Russian
  • Portuguese
  • Polish

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. My microbiota as a woman
  3. IBD and pregnancy: importance of vaginal microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
  • About the Institute
    • About us
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Press room
    • Partnerships

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo
The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. My microbiota as a woman
  3. IBD and pregnancy: importance of vaginal microbiota
My microbiota as a woman

IBD and pregnancy: importance of vaginal microbiota

Pregnancy
The vaginal microbiota IBD

In addition to living with inflammatory bowel disease, the thousands of women who suffer from this disease during pregnancy are also at higher risk of preterm delivery and low-birth-weight newborns. Why? One explanation may lie in their vaginal microbiota. 

The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
    • Probiotics
    • Prebiotics
    • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
    • Diet
  • Publications
    • News
    • Thematics folders
    • Thematic pages
    • Microbiota Q & A
    • Patients Stories
    • Experts' point of view
  • About the Institute
    • About us
    • International Microbiota Observatory
    • Press room
    • Partnerships

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

Healthcare professionals section

Find here your dedicated section
Biocodex logo

Sources

This article is based on scientific information

Sharing is caring

Your friends might be interested in this topic. Why not share it?

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail

About this article

Created 12 May 2022
Updated 14 May 2024

30% 1 in 3 women are aware that delivery (vaginally or cesarean section) has an impact on the newborn’s gut microbiota

Learn more:
What women know (and don't know) about their vaginal microbiota

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, is frequently diagnosed in women of childbearing age and increases the risk of premature delivery, caesarean section, and low birth weight. While pregnancy in healthy women changes the composition of the vaginal microbiota, there is no evidence that this change occurs in women suffering from IBD. A new study has investigated this important period.

The vaginal microbiota

Find out more

Pregnancy: enigma of the vaginal microbiota 

Numerous studies have highlighted the gut microbiota’s role in IBD. The role of the vaginal microbiota, however, is not yet known. Nor is it known whether pregnancy modifies the vaginal microbiota composition of women suffering from IBD, as has been observed in healthy pregnant women, whose vaginal microbiota becomes more stable, less rich and less diversified, and displays a greater abundance of (sidenote: Lactobacilli Rod-shaped bacteria whose main characteristic is the production of lactic acid, from where they get the name “lactic acid bacteria”.  Lactobacilli are present in the oral, vaginal and gut microbiota of humans, but also in plants and animals. They are found in fermented foods, such as dairy products (e.g. certain cheeses and yoghurts), pickles, sauerkraut, etc. Lactobacilli are also found in probiotics, with certain species recognized for their beneficial properties.   W. H. Holzapfel et B. J. Wood, The Genera of Lactic Acid Bacteria, 2, Springer-Verlag, 1st ed. 1995 (2012), 411 p. « The genus Lactobacillus par W. P. Hammes, R. F. Vogel Tannock GW. A special fondness for lactobacilli. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Jun;70(6):3189-94. Smith TJ, Rigassio-Radler D, Denmark R, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG® and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12® on health-related quality of life in college students affected by upper respiratory infections. Br J Nutr. 2013 Jun;109(11):1999-2007. ) .

Solving the equation, IBD + pregnancy + vaginal microbiota 

To solve this equation, which includes several unknowns, Canadian researchers studied the vaginal microbiota composition of 32 pregnant women suffering from IBD, obtaining samples from them during each trimester. By the end of the study, nearly 44% of the women had delivered at term by cesarean section, while two had delivered prematurely.

The researchers observed that the composition of their vaginal microbiota remained stable throughout pregnancy and was dominated by lactobacilli. However, bacterial species of the class Mollicutes – some of whose species are associated with preterm birth – were identified in 80% of the IBD patients at least once during pregnancy, a rate significantly higher than that observed in 172 healthy pregnant women who delivered at term. 

This study provides a first insight into the changes in the vaginal microbiota of pregnant women suffering from IBD. Despite the high prevalence of Mollicutes detected, further work is needed to confirm that these bacteria expose expectant mothers to an increased risk of preterm delivery.

Recommended by our community

"Interesting" - Carolyne Joan Weckman (From My health, my microbiota)

"Interesting" - Elaine Borkowsky Lampert (From My health, my microbiota)

Sources

Hill JE, Peña-Sánchez JN, Fernando C et al. Composition and Stability of the Vaginal Microbiota of Pregnant Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2021 Dec 17:izab314.

Tags
Dysbiosis Pregnancy Preterm birth Vagina Microbiome Flora

    See also

    Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and microplastics: an explosive cocktail?
    Can the gut microbiota be used to better predict responses to IBD treatment?
    Created 12 May 2022
    Updated 14 May 2024

    About this article

    To know more about this topic.

    Main topic

    Pregnancy

    Related microbiotas

    The vaginal microbiota

    Related topics

    IBD
    My microbiota as a woman

    Microbiotalk : short conferences on antimicrobial resistance

    Breaking the silence: a global conversation on antimicrobial resistance Antimicrobial resistance (AM...

    Find out more

    The vaginal microbiota

    The vaginal microbiota: how to take care of it? Hundreds of bacteria populate the vagina.1 Let’s see...

    Find out more

    The gut microbiota

    Gut microbiota: why is it that important for your health? We have trillions1 of bacteria that po...

    Find out more

    Fecal transplant

    Fecal transplant involves introducing a healthy person’s stool into a patient’s digestive tract in or...

    Find out more

    Are certain women predisposed to STIs?

    Several epidemiological studies have found a correlation between bacterial vaginosis, vulvovaginal ca...

    Find out more

    Prebiotics: what you need to know

    With just one different letter separating prebiotics and probiotics, no wonder they get confused! To ...

    Find out more

    Probiotics

    Probiotics: essential information for understanding and choosing them correctly. What exactly are pro...

    Find out more

    Is bacterial vaginosis a disease?

    Vaginal microbiota plays an essential role in women’s health. It is mainly composed of lactobacilli, ...

    Find out more

    Latest news

    News
    Periods and endometriosis: what is the role of the microbiota?
    24.01.2023

    Periods and endometriosis: what is the role of the microbiota?

    Read the article
    Allergies : et si tout venait du microbiote ?
    28.03.2023

    Allergies: and what if it all started with the microbiota?

    Read the article
    Photo LP: Infertilité : des bactéries et des virus vaginaux co-impliqués
    01.04.2025

    Infertility: vaginal bacteria and viruses both implicated

    Read the article
    11.05.2021

    Dust microbiota from the city or the countryside? Atopic dermatitis has a preference!

    Read the article
    Actu GP : Vaginose bactérienne : les hommes seraient-ils impliqués ?
    24.11.2020

    Are men involved in bacterial vaginosis?

    Read the article
    30.12.2024

    Female anatomy, microbiotas and intimate hygiene

    Read the article
    Periods & vaginal microbiota: Science in progress…
    11.01.2023

    Periods & vaginal microbiota: Science in progress…

    Read the article
    31.01.2025

    When bacteria signal the presence of endometriosis

    Read the article
    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo
    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota
    • English
    • Français
    • Español
    • Russian
    • Portuguese
    • Polish

    Browse the site

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Redirection

    You are about to be redirected and leave our website

    • Be redirected
    • Stay on the Biocodex Microbiota Institute's website

    Stay with us !

    Join the microbiota community and receive "The Essentials" once a month to stay up to date with the latest news on the microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    Explore

    13.05.2025

    When sodas harm your microbiota and your health

    Read the article
    07.05.2025

    Downside of fruit and vegetable juices for gut health

    Read the article
    Photo LP: Sensibles à l’E466 ? Votre microbiote a son mot à dire
    15.04.2025

    Sensitive to E466? Your microbiota plays a role

    Read the article

    Stay updated

    Join the Microbiota Community and receive once a month “The Essential” to stay up to date on the latest news about microbiota.

    * Mandatory Fields

    BMI 20-35

    • Learn all about microbiota
      • The gut microbiota
      • The ENT microbiota
      • The pulmonary microbiota
      • The urinary microbiota
      • The skin microbiota
      • The vaginal microbiota
    • Microbiota and related conditions
      • Digestive disorders
      • Women disorders
      • Metabolic disorders
      • Skin disorders
      • Pediatric disorders
      • Psychiatric disorders
      • Neurological disorders
      • Respiratory disorders
      • Urinary disorders
    • Act on your microbiota
      • Probiotics
      • Prebiotics
      • Fecal Microbiota Transplant
      • Diet
    • Publications
      • News
      • Thematics folders
      • Thematic pages
      • Microbiota Q & A
      • Patients Stories
      • Experts' point of view
    • About the Institute
      • About us
      • International Microbiota Observatory
      • Press room
      • Partnerships

      Join the microbiota community

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram
      • Bluesky

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section
    Biocodex logo

    Discover

    The power of your gut
    My microbiota as a woman
    Our marvelous microbiota

    Healthcare professionals section

    Find here your dedicated section

    Join the microbiota community

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • YouTube
    • Instagram
    • Bluesky

    © 2025 Biocodex. All rights reserved.

    • Legal notice
    • GTU
    • Data protection policy
    • Sitemap
    • Cookies settings
    • Digital accessibility : partially compliant
    Biocodex logo