Healthy women, healthy babies, a healthy future: the microbial point of view
JESSICA A. TERHAAR*1,2, MARIYA I. PETROVA3,4
*Corresponding author
1. International Probiotics Association, USA
2. Terhaar Consulting Inc., Richmond Hill, Canada
3. KU Leuven, Belgium
4. Microbiome Insights and Probiotics consultancy, Bulgaria
Abstract
Women’s health represents a cornerstone for successful reproduction and carrying the healthy new generation. Although, research has advanced in the last decades still paramount issues and gaps in our knowledge remain when focusing on new treatment opportunities for women-specific diseases. An important player is the human microbiota and more specifically the vaginal microbiota, which has been shown to take an essential role in maintaining women’s health. Other previously forbidden microbial niches show that indeed the microbiome is a factor to be considered when talking about mothers and babies. However, translating this knowledge into the clinical practice or to the industry stakeholders is still challenging.
It is an understatement to say that the health of women has overarching effects. “A happy wife, a happy life” and other such phrases can be found in all cultures. A health trends study from Sweden found that over time women tend to perceive their health as being worse than peers in their own age group. Taking a positive approach, this creates opportunities to empower a proactive approach by engaging the women themselves in health-based solutions. This coupled with the fact that over the past 50 years there have been minimal (if any) significant breakthroughs in women’s health, indicate huge market potential for new innovative efficacious products.
One of the huge areas of growth is related to reproduction. Financially speaking, the global fertility market is expected to grow to $21 billion by 2020. Healthy reproduction is often an afterthought, yet it forms second core pillar of biology on this planet. Everywhere you look, biological processes are geared towards guiding, curating, and driving reproduction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 29% of women with fertility issues sought medical advice, and 27% had some variant ...
