Culturing a cure: new research sparks hope for women's vaginal health

In the human body, diversity in microbiomes is usually a good thing. For instance, a diverse gut microbiome is linked to better immune functioning and general health and well-being. But when it comes to the vagina, healthy microbiomes are dominated by Lactobacillus bacteria. The absence of beneficial lactobacilli and the presence of many types of anaerobic bacteria are hallmarks of bacterial vaginosis.