Vaginal bacteria are a thing, and they’re cooler than you think.
The human body is a fascinating thing! It’s a complex system of organs and tissues working together with bacteria and other microorganisms, all with the goal of keeping you alive for as long as possible. Billions of tiny microorganisms live in your body, each with their own specific purpose. When most people think of vaginal bacteria, they think of STDs, yeast infections, UTIs, and the list goes on. But did you know that the bacteria living in your private parts may actually be PROTECTING you from all of these infections?
A team of researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill made a pretty startling discovery earlier this year. They conducted a study into vaginal mucus and what purpose it served beyond reproduction. The results might shock you:
A form of lactobacillus bacteria is important for your vaginal health. Recognize the name lactobacillus? Of course you do! It’s an important part of dairy based probiotics. However, the type of bacteria responsible for your vaginal health is one Lactobacillus crispatus.
This strain of bacteria is more than just good for your health–it’s even able to fight off HIV infections and STDs. You see, this bacteria creates a mucus barrier in the vagina, and that barrier is able to block the viruses and bacteria of HIV and STDs from being able to infect the walls of your vagina. The mucus can actually trap the HIV virus, preventing the infection completely.
READ MORE: Vagina Myths: what you should know
Of course, it’s not the lactobacillus crisptaus bacteria that does the job alone. In order to have strong, protective mucus, there needs to be high levels of a compound known as D-lactic acid. High levels of this compound will contribute to a strong mucus barrier, ensuring that infectious viruses and bacteria are trapped. Without sufficient D-lactic acid, the mucus will be weak and thus unable to trap the infections.
What does this discovery mean? Well, for one thing, it could lead to some pretty awesome anti-HIV and STD treatments. After all, if a simple mucus layer is able to trap the viruses and bacteria and prevent infections, it may be fairly easy to create a preventative measure that will help to protect the reproductive system. This discovery is fairly new, meaning further research must be done in order to understand how this extra protective mucus is formed.
The sad truth is that not all women have the same vaginal mucus. Some have higher levels of certain bacteria, not necessarily the lactobacillus crispatus bacteria. Without enough D-lactic acid–which the human body cannot produce, but must be consumed via supplements and your food–your vaginal mucus will be unable to protect your body from HIV and other infections.
How can you know if you have super-mucus in your nether regions? You’ll need to take a special lab test, which will evaluate the bacterial makeup of your mucus. The test will tell you if your mucus is able to protect you from infections, or if it’s just regular old-fashioned mucus for lubrication and reproduction.
While this new discovery of anti-STD/HIV mucus is awesome, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t still practice safe sex. In order to seriously reduce your risk of infections, it’s always best to keep your downstairs as clean as possible. Take steps to protect your vagina when having sex (especially with multiple partners), and eat food that will keep your immune system strong. THAT is the best way to reduce your risk of infections!
