Lactobacillus acidophilus and yogurt in the prevention and therapy of bacterial vaginosis

In the vaginas of women different microorganisms can be found, among others also lactic acid bacteria. These bacteria form an acid milieu that can protect the woman from a vaginal infection. After genital infection the proportion of microorganisms is changed; the numbers of pathogenic organisms such as Candida, Gardnerella and/or Trichomonas increase, the number of lactobacilli decrease. Several studies show that direct application of Lactobacillus acidophilus or yogurt in the vagina can be therapeutically useful. There are now some indications that the ingestion of dairy products fermented by Lactobacillus acidophilus might also have a therapeutic benefit. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.