Archives
International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
Hidden players in preterm birth: Exploring the vaginal microbiome’s role in risk and prevention
Renuka Prajapati, Divya Chavda, Payal Rohit, Vibha Christian
Year : 2026 | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 139-145
Received on: 12/02/2026
Revised on: 27/02/2026
Accepted on: 12/04/2026
Published on: 01/05/2026
-
Renuka Prajapati, Divya Chavda, Payal Rohit, Vibha Christian( 2026).
Hidden players in preterm birth: Exploring the vaginal microbiome’s role in risk and prevention
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 11( 3), 139-145.
-
click to view the cite format
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation, remains a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Despite advances in obstetric care, its global burden remains high, necessitating exploration of underlying mechanisms beyond traditional risk factors. This review examines the role of the vaginal microbiome as a critical yet under recognized contributor to PTB. A structured narrative review with systematic elements was conducted using databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering studies published from 2000 onwards. Eligible studies included observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses focusing on vaginal microbiome composition, mechanisms, biomarkers, and preventive strategies. Findings indicate that a Lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiome is associated with reduced PTB risk, while dysbiosis characterized by increased microbial diversity and anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella, Prevotella, and Atopobium is strongly linked to adverse outcomes. Mechanistically, ascending infections and inflammation mediated by cytokines contribute to preterm labor. Microbial biomarkers and community state types show promise for early prediction, supported by advances in sequencing technologies and machine learning models. Additionally, modifiable factors including nutrition, hygiene practices, antibiotic use, and socioeconomic status significantly influence microbiome composition and PTB risk. Preventive strategies such as probiotics, prebiotics, and microbiome-targeted interventions show potential but require further validation. Overall, the vaginal microbiome plays a pivotal role in PTB pathogenesis and prevention. Integrating microbiome research with clinical and public health strategies may enable early risk identification and reduce the global burden of preterm birth.
Keywords
Preterm birth, Vaginal microbiome, Dysbiosis, Lactobacillus, Bacterial vaginosis.
-
Full Article PDF (
45)
- View HTML Article
Copy Rights
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
