Hawraa Nasser Hamza1,*, Dhay Ali Azeez1 and Hanaa Ali Aziz1
1Department of Biology, College of Science, Al Muthanna University.
Corresponding Author: hawraanass@mu.edu.iq
Received 5 June. 2025, Accepted 16 July. 2025, published 30 Dec. 2025.
AbstractKey wordsDOI
Vaginal microbiome has as an essential part in maintaining female reproductive health, through the prevalence of Lactobacillus species, which preserving the vaginal milieu homeostasis. After menopause the hormonal alternations could contribute in reducing microbiota and making the vaginal dysbiosis take place, that’s may increase the risk of urogenital complications. Objective of this study is investigation about the shifts in female’s vaginal microbiome through menopausal transition and their role in the emergence of urogenital symptoms that are related with Genitourinary Syndrome (GSM). The duration of the study was from September to December 2024. Included 100 participiants, 75 women above 45 years old with no longer menstruation and at different time intervals, 25 women with regular menstrual cycle under forties. Clinical checkup before obtain the sample, chromoagar, and biochemical test were utilized to identify the microbial isolates. A significant difference in vaginal bacterial growth, are showed 12.0% of bacterial growth was diverse in pre-menopausal participants compared with 92.0% in post-menopausal participants. Microbial profiles of the vaginal microbiota characterized by low Lactobacillus acidophilus in post-menopausal 24.0% participants in compared with pre-menopausal 52.0% participants. The most pathogenic bacteria that were isolated is Enterococcus faecalis 60.0% in post-menopausal participants respectively in compared with pre-menopausal 12.0% participants. In post-menopausal group, there was a significant association between urogenital symptoms and bacterial growth (P> 0.05), in contrast to pre-menopausal group which show non-significant correlation (p 0.05). The diverse bacterial growth that’s more predominant in post-menopause participants compared to pre-menopause women, indicating that a hormonal fluctuations at menopause stage which resulting from ovarian dysfunction, may contribute in reducing the existence of Lactobacillus species. Thu, vaginal microbial diversity increase specially Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida spp., which were the most frequent pathogen that isolated from menopausal group. a significant correlation between a bacterial growth was found in post-menopausal groups and the emerging urogenital symptoms, supporting an association between the altered vaginal microbiota and Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).
Vaginal microbiome, Menopause, GSM, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus faecalis.
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