ISSN: 0973-7510

E-ISSN: 2581-690X

Research Article | Open Access
Jeyakumar Balakrishnan1, Nanthini Saravanan2,3, Mohan Sundaram4and Suganya Kannan1
1Central Research Laboratory for Biomedical Research, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College and Hospital, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Puducherry, India.
2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Puducherry, India.
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) – Karaikal, Puducherry, India.
4Department of Microbiology, Vinayaka Mission’s Medical College, Vinayaka Mission’s Research Foundation (Deemed to be University), Karaikal, Puducherry, India.
Article Number: 10248 | © The Author(s). 2026
J Pure Appl Microbiol. 2026;20(1):179-188. https://doi.org/10.22207/JPAM.20.1.04
Received: 18 January 2025 | Accepted: 13 August 2025 | Published online: 07 January 2026
Issue online: March 2026
Abstract

The vaginal microbiota is a critical component of female reproductive and urogenital health, predominantly maintained by Lactobacillus species. These bacteria play a vital role in sustaining a low vaginal pH by producing lactic acid and antimicrobial substances, providing natural defense against pathogenic colonization. The hormonal alterations linked to menopause, especially the reduction in oestrogen levels, significantly influence the composition and stability of the vaginal microbiome, making women vulnerable to infections and inflammation. This investigation sought to assess and contrast the vaginal microbiome composition in women before and after menopause. Using Gram-stain microscopy, conventional culture methods, and molecular techniques, specifically Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), to assess Lactobacillus abundance and the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria. A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted by comparing two groups of women: 40 premenopausal and 40 postmenopausal, for a total of 80 participants. Vaginal swabs were collected and subjected to Gram staining, culture on selective media for Candida spp., and PCR/qPCR analysis to detect and quantify key bacterial species, including Lactobacillus spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, and Atopobium vaginae. SPSS Version 25 was employed for conducting. The statistical analysis yielded data viewed significant at p < 0.05. Microscopic observation revealed that 85% of premenopausal women had Nugent scores indicating a healthy Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota, while only 35% of postmenopausal women showed similar results. PCR and qPCR analyses demonstrated a significant reduction in Lactobacillus spp. in postmenopausal women, with Lactobacillus crispatus copy numbers declining from 4.5 × 10¹¹ to 1.2 × 10¹¹ copies/mL. Conversely, pathogenic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Prevotella spp. increased significantly in postmenopausal women. Additionally, Candida spp. colonization was high in the postmenopausal group (15%) compare to the premenopausal group (5%). The findings confirm a significant shift in vaginal microbiota composition due to menopausal hormonal changes. The depletion of Lactobacillus spp. and the concurrent rise in pathogenic bacteria in postmenopausal women underscore the need for targeted interventions, such as probiotic therapies or hormone replacement treatments, to restore microbial balance and reduce infection risks.

Keywords

Vaginal Microbiota, Lactobacillus Species, Menopause, Bacterial Vaginosis, Candida spp., PCR, qPCR, Gardnerella vaginalis, Vaginal Dysbiosis, Hormonal Changes

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© The Author(s) 2026. Open Access. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License which permits unrestricted use, sharing, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.