PCOS and Bacterial Vaginosis: Is There a Link?

Recent studies have shown that there may be a link between polycystic ovary syndrome and bacterial vaginosis. Is gut bacteria to blame for PCOS?

What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?

There has long been a mystery surrounding polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. It is a hormonal disorder that affects women of childbearing age and one of the leading causes of infertility. Women who have the condition suffer from excess levels of androgen—male hormone. They usually have irregular or prolonged menstrual periods, and their ovaries fail to function normally and release eggs.

Women with PCOS may not ovulate during certain months and have irregular periods as a result. Around 10 to 15 percent of women around the world are affected by the condition.

Although it’s not absolutely impossible to get pregnant while stricken with PCOS, women with the disorder are at a greater risk of miscarriage. If a pregnancy does occur without ending in miscarriage, another risk that can occur is premature birth.

Generally, the specific cause behind PCOS has long been unknown, but some studies show there may be a relationship between the disorder and bacterial vaginosis.

PCOS and Bacterial Vaginosis

One study, in particular, done at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine by researchers from San Diego State University and Poland’s Poznan University of Medical Sciences, explored the link between PCOS and bacteria.

According to the study, women with PCOS have fewer gut bacteria than women who don’t have the condition. Additionally, having less diverse gut bacteria is also associated with higher levels of testosterone, according to senior study author Varykina Thackray, Ph.D.

The researchers checked swabs from 73 women with PCOS and compared them to women who didn’t have the condition and those who had polycystic ovaries but lacked other characteristics of PCOS. They concluded that women with PCOS have the least diverse gut bacteria and that there is a significant link between PCOS and bacterial vaginosis.

Gut bacteria diversity plays a vital role in a person’s overall health. Further research has concluded that people who have certain types of metabolic conditions such as obesity may have different gut bacteria compared to those who don’t suffer from those conditions.

Although Thackray stated that more research would be needed to determine whether certain types of gut bacteria may contribute to a woman’s developing PCOS and if it may offer ways to treat it, she speculated that it might be possible to treat PCOS with testosterone blockers or oral contraceptives.

In order for a woman to be definitively diagnosed with PCOS, she must have at least two of the three main features of the disorder. They include the following:

Greater number of cysts in the ovaries, which can be seen by ultrasound
Slight elevation in testosterone levels or clinical symptoms of it, like excess body hair
Irregular or absent menstrual periods

Differences in Vaginal Bacteria With and Without PCOS

The studies concluded that there was a remarkable difference in vaginal bacteria in women with PCOS and women without it. Bacterial species in women with PCOS were determined to be more diverse than those from the women not suffering from the disorder.

It was discovered that women who have PCOS have much lower amounts of Lactobacillus crispatus compared with women who do not have the condition. At the same time, these women have higher levels of Mycoplasma and Prevotella. It was interesting to note that higher levels of Mycoplasma had a link with PCOS.

Limiting Bacterial Vaginosis Flareups

One of the main reasons for the link between PCOS and bacterial vaginosis is the lack of Lactobacillus. If a woman’s vaginal environment lacks this good bacterium, there is a greater risk of developing bacterial vaginosis.

Although it’s not necessarily possible to alter the bacteria that naturally occur in the body, women with PCOS can limit their bacterial vaginosis flareups. Take the following steps to do this:

Make sure male partners use a condom before any sexual contact
Avoid douching
Only wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom
Limit your number of sexual partners
Clean sex toys after each use
Get tested for sexually transmitted infections and ensure your partners are tested
For intimate cleaning, only use water and mild soap

Based on research studies, there is a potential treatment for PCOS on the horizon. You can also manage your condition and keep bacterial vaginosis at bay, which can improve your everyday life.