Microbiota and urogenital infections

Contrary to a still widely held belief, urine is never sterile; it is instead home to a unique microbiota. And a loss of diversity in this microbiota is a risk factor for urinary tract infections. On the other hand, the vaginal microbiota, when balanced, has low diversity and is dominated by a small number of lactobacilli. A loss of this dominant flora is associated with infections of the lower urogenital system. Hence the efforts of science to regulate vaginal and urinary microbiomes using probiotics (bacteria, yeasts) or even vaginal microbiota transplants.