The results of a first exploratory study testing the use of vaginal microbiome transplantation from healthy donors (VMT), as a therapeutic alternative for patients suffering from symptomatic, intractable and recurrent bacterial vaginosis.. vaginal microbiome transplantation - VMT

We report the results of a first exploratory study testing the use of vaginal microbiome transplantation from healthy donors (VMT), as a therapeutic alternative for patients suffering from symptomatic, intractable and recurrent bacterial vaginosis (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02236429). In our case series, five patients were treated, and in four of them VMT was associated with full long-term remission until the end of follow up at 5 to 21 months after VMT, defined as marked improvement of symptoms, Amsel’s criteria, microscopic vaginal fluid appearance and reconstitution of a lactobacillus-dominated vaginal microbiome. One patient presented with incomplete remission in clinical and laboratory features. No adverse effects were observed in any of the five women. Of note, remission in three patients necessitated repeated VMT and a donor change to elicit a long-standing clinical response. The therapeutic efficacy of VMT in women with intractable and recurrent bacterial vaginosis needs to be further determined in randomized clinical trials.