The Immune System

Many of us were unknowingly introduced to the gut-vagina axis during high school health class, that is if you were one of the few still paying attention! Remember the message of wiping front to back? This lesson in vagina hygiene 101 was designed to help females prevent the transmission of not-so-healthy bugs from the GIT to the vagina and urinary tract when going to the loo.[iv] What we didn’t get taught, however, was about the important role of good bugs in gut and vagina health.

These good bugs, or microbes, belong to a larger community of bacteria, viruses, and fungi that are collectively referred to as the microbiome, and both the gut and vagina are home to their own unique microbial communities.[v] Interestingly, research has discovered ways in which gut health can affect our vaginal microbiome! [vi]

The Brain

A few mechanisms, including the immune system, hormones, and nerve pathways, connect the gut microbiome and the vaginal microbiome.
When the gut microbiome is compromised, it can have a ripple effect on the vaginal microbiome. Poor gut health can lead to inflammation and an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, which can then travel to the vaginal area and disrupt the delicate balance of the vaginal microbiome. This can lead to various issues including yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
While there is still much to be learned, there are several ways in which recent research has demonstrated a connection between gut and vagina microbiome health. 

Hormone Health

The gut has a role in supporting the synthesis and balance of our hormones such as oestrogen, thyroid hormones, serotonin, and melatonin. An imbalance in the gut’s microbiome can cause the reabsorption of certain hormones or encourage their excretion, causing a deficiency or dominance in certain hormones and thus a hormonal imbalance which can lead to various health issues.