Vaginal Ecosystem During Gestation and Puerperium: Microbiota, Dysbiosis, Infection and Fetal-Maternal Implications
A structured narrative review describes vaginal microbiota dynamics across pregnancy and the postpartum period, integrating evidence on dysbiosis, infections, and maternal-fetal outcomes.
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Context
Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiota is considered protective during pregnancy. Its disruption is associated with infections, preterm birth, and neonatal morbidity.
What the study showed
Pregnancy is characterized by a stable, low-diversity, Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota. The postpartum period involves reduced Lactobacillus abundance, increased microbial diversity, and gradual eubiosis restoration. Ecosystem disruption promotes biofilm formation, microbial persistence, and inflammation.
How it was done
Structured narrative review with searches in PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus through July 2026. Priority given to systematic reviews, meta-analyses, clinical guidelines, RCTs, and observational studies on vaginal microbiota, dysbiosis, and infections during pregnancy and puerperium.
Risk of bias
Narrative reviews do not perform quantitative synthesis and are subject to selection bias. Analysis is based solely on the abstract, without access to the full text.
What this study does NOT prove
This narrative review does not establish causality between specific vaginal dysbiosis patterns and adverse perinatal outcomes.
In clinical practice
The abstract supports clinical attention to vaginal dysbiosis during prenatal care and the postpartum period. No specific intervention can be recommended based on this abstract alone.
Limitations
Narrative reviews do not perform quantitative synthesis and are subject to selection bias. Analysis is based solely on the abstract, without access to the full text.
Technical appendix
Version history
- 1.0 · 2026-11-08 — Auto-generated under Evidence Standard v1.0