June is World Infertility Awareness Month, highlighting the challenges many individuals and couples grapple with when trying to conceive. It’s a common misconception that infertility is a rare issue; in reality, it affects approximately 48.5 million couples or 186 million people around the world.
In the United States alone, 1 in 5 women aged 15 to 49 struggle with primary infertility, indicating they can’t get pregnant after at least a year of trying. Furthermore, 1 in 20 women confront secondary infertility, defining they have problems conceiving or successfully carrying a pregnancy after a prior birth.
Infertility in females can be especially challenging, given a woman’s fertility typically begins to decline starting around age 30 and drops more significantly after 35. Primary causes include ovulation issues, blocked fallopian tubes, conditions such as endometriosis or infections.
Recent studies have found the vaginal microbiome, a complex ecosystem within the vagina, plays an essential role in female reproductive health. Changes in this microenvironment through a woman’s lifetime aid in protecting against infections. Nevertheless, an unbalanced microbiome can lead to a variety of health issues, such as antibiotic resistance and hormone imbalances.
Maintaining a balanced vaginal microbiome is key for a healthy reproductive system. Probiotics might assist by promoting this balance, making it more challenging for detrimental bacteria to thrive. Probiotics also support other critical bodily processes, like digestion and immune response, which are essential for fertility.
While conceiving with an imbalanced vaginal microbiome is possible, it poses certain risks. These risks include miscarriage due to inflammation and infections caused by an unbalanced microbiome, premature birth, postpartum endometritis, preterm premature rupture of membranes, as well as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
The journey to fertility can be difficult, but treatments exist which bring hope to those who wish to conceive. Always consult with a healthcare provider before commencing any new treatment or supplement regimen.