The vaginal microbiota is a crucial component of women's health. For example, an ecological imbalance in the vaginal microbiota is responsible for bacterial vaginosis, which affects over 20% of reproductive-aged women. In general, perturbations of the vaginal microbiota, or dysbioses, are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth, severe discomfort, and negatively impact women's mental health.

 

One of the major health consequences of bacterial vaginosis is an increased risk of infections, including HIV, human papillomaviruses (HPV), and urinary tract infections. Conversely, infections can alter immunological profiles and resource landscapes in the vaginal milieu, consequently shaping vaginal microbiota communities. 

 

Despite the serious health implications and apparent interdependence, understanding and predicting vaginal health in the context of vaginal microbiota and infection is challenging due to interactions and feedbacks among the components of the vaginal environment, including microbes, immune responses, and host conditions. Therefore, future advances in vaginal health research require a multi-disciplinary approach that facilitates better communication of concepts and tools developed across disciplines.