Effects of feminine hygiene products on the vaginal mucosal biome - PubMed (original) (raw)

Effects of feminine hygiene products on the vaginal mucosal biome

Bisiayo Fashemi et al. Microb Ecol Health Dis. 2013.

Abstract

Background: Over-the-counter (OTC) feminine hygiene products come with little warning about possible side effects. This study evaluates in-vitro their effects on Lactobacillus crispatus, which is dominant in the normal vaginal microbiota and helps maintain a healthy mucosal barrier essential for normal reproductive function and prevention of sexually transmitted infections and gynecologic cancer.

Methods: A feminine moisturizer (Vagisil), personal lubricant, and douche were purchased OTC. A topical spermicide (nonoxynol-9) known to alter the vaginal immune barrier was used as a control. L. crispatus was incubated with each product for 2 and 24h and then seeded on agar for colony forming units (CFU). Human vaginal epithelial cells were exposed to products in the presence or absence of L. crispatus for 24h, followed by epithelium-associated CFU enumeration. Interleukin-8 was immunoassayed and ANOVA was used for statistical evaluation.

Results: Nonoxynol-9 and Vagisil suppressed Lactobacillus growth at 2h and killed all bacteria at 24h. The lubricant decreased bacterial growth insignificantly at 2h but killed all at 24h. The douche did not have a significant effect. At full strength, all products suppressed epithelial viability and all, except the douche, suppressed epithelial-associated CFU. When applied at non-toxic dose in the absence of bacteria, the douche and moisturizer induced an increase of IL-8, suggesting a potential to initiate inflammatory reaction. In the presence of L. crispatus, the proinflammatory effects of the douche and moisturizer were countered, and IL-8 production was inhibited in the presence of the other products.

Conclusion: Some OTC vaginal products may be harmful to L. crispatus and alter the vaginal immune environment. Illustrated through these results, L. crispatus is essential in the preservation of the function of vaginal epithelial cells in the presence of some feminine hygiene products. More research should be invested toward these products before they are placed on the market.

Keywords: Interleukin-8; L. crispatus; Lactobacillus; Nonoxynol-9; cytokines; mucosal immunity; vaginal epithelial colonization; vaginal microbiota.

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Figures

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

Composite effect of vaginal products on L. crispatus CFU. Bars represent logarithmically transformed means and standard errors of the mean from triplicate CFU measurements at (A) 2 h and (B) 24 h for each vaginal product exposed to bacteria twice. P values <0.05 and <0.01 show significant differences from the medium control. n.s. = no significant difference from control.

Fig. 2

Fig. 2

(A) Effect of product on vaginal keratinocyte (Vk) viability assessed by MTT assay, (B) L. crispatus colonization assessed by Vk-associated CFU, and Vk IL-8 production in (C) the absence or (D) the presence of L. crispatus. Data represent means and SEM of biological triplicates. * = p<0.05, ** = p<0.01, *** = p<0.001, values in product-treated cultures lower than medium control; + = p<0.05, + + + = p<0.001, values in product-treated cultures higher than medium control.

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