The female genital tract is naturally colonized by mixed communities of bacteria, known as the vaginal microbiome. When these communities are dominated by species such as Lactobacillus crispatus, the bacteria provide important protective functions in genital health.
But overgrowth of certain other bacterial species is linked to a condition known as bacterial vaginosis, or BV, which affects nearly 30 percent of women around the world, carrying increased risk for sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, and, in pregnant individuals, premature birth. Unfortunately, current antibiotic-based treatments for BV are not very effective, with high rates of recurrence.
