Vaginal Flora
While Lactobacillus species are part of the vaginal flora, the most common species are Lactobacillus crispatus, L. gasseri, L. jensenii, and L. iners -- modern identification methods have not found L. acidophilus to be common in the vagina. In lab experiments, L. acidophilus seemed to decrease Candida albicans’ ability to adhere to vaginal epithelial cells; however, L. acidophilus’ role in preventing yeast infections is unclear because this species of Lactobacilli has also been found not to have a very strong ability to adhere to (and thereby colonize) the vaginal cells.
Certain spermicides and contraceptive creams can kill Lactobacillus species in the vagina, clearing the path to possible yeast infections.
Read more about this topic: Lactobacillus Acidophilus
Famous quotes containing the word flora:
“A man’s interest in a single bluebird is worth more than a complete but dry list of the fauna and flora of a town.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)