The human
vaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
l region has a higher concentration of
bacteriaThe bacteria are a large group of unicellular microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
than any other part of the body other than the
colonThe colon is the last portion of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body....
. The bacteria of the vaginal flora were discovered by the German gynecologist Albert Döderlein in 1892. Primarily, these bacteria consist of lactobacilli , and are collectively referred to as the vaginal flora. The amount and type of bacteria present have significant implications for a woman's overall health.
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The human
vaginaThe vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
l region has a higher concentration of
bacteriaThe bacteria are a large group of unicellular microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
than any other part of the body other than the
colonThe colon is the last portion of the digestive system in most vertebrates; it extracts water and salt from solid wastes before they are eliminated from the body....
. The bacteria of the vaginal flora were discovered by the German gynecologist Albert Döderlein in 1892. Primarily, these bacteria consist of lactobacilli , and are collectively referred to as the vaginal flora. The amount and type of bacteria present have significant implications for a woman's overall health. These bacteria and the
lactic acidLactic acid , also known as milk acid, is a chemical compound that plays a role in several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid with a chemical formula of C
3H
6O
3...
they produce, in combination with fluids secreted during sexual arousal, are greatly responsible for the characteristic scent associated with the vaginal area.
Menstruation
During
menstruationMenstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining . It occurs on a regular basis in reproductive-age females of certain mammal species. Overt menstruation is found primarily in humans and close evolutionary relatives such as chimpanzees...
, the concentration of vaginal flora is observed to decline. The effect of
tamponA tampon is a mass of cotton or rayon; or a mixture of the two inserted into a body cavity or wound to absorb bodilyfluid. The most common type in daily use is disposable and designed to be inserted into the vagina during menstruation to absorb the flow of menstrual fluid...
use on vaginal flora is debated, but safe application of sterile tampons appears not to significantly modify the balance of bacterial presence.
Disease prevention
A healthy vaginal flora aids in the prevention of yeast infections and other possible problems by occupying the chemical resources otherwise utilized by pathogen organisms. However, harmful bacteria or an imbalance in bacteria can lead to infection.
One method of reducing the risk of infection in the local area of the
urethraIn anatomy, the urethra is a tube which connects the urinary bladder to the outside of the body. The urethra has an excretory function in both sexes to pass urine to the outside, and also a reproductive function in the male, as a passage for semen.The external urethral sphincter is a striated...
is to urinate immediately after sex. Additionally, exclusive use of sterile contraceptives can assist in prevention of infection.