20/03/2026
During the Microbiome to Life conference, one important fact was highlighted: STIs are only part of the picture 👉🧬 not all infections in the reproductive tract are sexually transmitted.
💬 “Sexually transmitted infections are only a small part of all infections in the reproductive tract.”
What does this mean?
🔬 Infections can have different origins:
✔️ Disruption of the normal microbiota balance (dysbiosis)
→ bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, aerobic vaginitis
✔️ Sexually transmitted pathogens
→ gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc.
✔️ Externally introduced microorganisms
→ during medical procedures
⚠️ Symptoms are often similar
→ diagnosis cannot be made based on symptoms alone
→ laboratory testing is required for appropriate treatment
🦠 The vaginal microbiome plays a key role:
✔️ first line of defense against infections
✔️ protects against bacterial STIs
✔️ contributes to the formation of the newborn’s microbiome
💡 Conclusion: Proper diagnosis begins with understanding the microbiome-not just the pathogens.
RIDACOM MedTalks News Atanas Messetchkov Microbiome to Life