Important rules of intimate hygiene during pregnancy and postpartum: necessity or modern trend?
Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A., Katkova N.Yu., Shaposhnikova E.V.
The vaginal microbiota plays a significant role in maintaining women’s reproductive health during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Dysbiosis is associated with an increased risk of inflammatory diseases, preterm birth, intrauterine infection, and reduced quality of life. The study conducted by the International Microbiota Observatory in 2023 revealed a critically low level of awareness among women regarding the role of vaginal microbiota and proper intimate hygiene practices. This finding emphasizes the need for educational programs and active involvement of healthcare professionals in preventive care.
The presented clinical cases demonstrate that timely correction of the microbiota using rational antimicrobial therapy and gentle intimate hygiene products based on burdock extract (Saforelle) helps to relieve inflammatory symptoms, reduce mucosal dryness, and restore vaginal microbiota both during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. A pregnant patient with mixed vaginitis and gestational diabetes mellitus showed rapid clinical improvement and normalized microflora. A woman in the postpartum period with genitourinary syndrome of lactation experienced a decrease in mucosal atrophy symptoms and an improvement in her quality of life.
Conclusion: The use of gentle intimate hygiene products is a rational element of a comprehensive approach to maintaining women’s health.
Authors’ contributions: Teterina T.A., Shaposhnikova E.V. – collection of publications, processing and analysis of materials, writing the text, translation of the articles; Apolikhina I.A., Katkova N.Yu. – editing the article.
Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
Funding: The study was conducted without sponsorship.
Patient consent for publication: The patients provided informed consent for the publication of their data and associated images.
For citation: Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A., Katkova N.Yu., Shaposhnikova E.V. Important rules of
intimate hygiene during pregnancy and postpartum: necessity or modern trend?
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (9): 192-200 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2025.252
Keywords
vaginal and vulvar microbiota
vaginitis in pregnancy
vulvovaginitis
vaginal dysbiosis
genitourinary syndrome of lactation (GSL)
burdock
burdock extract
intimate hygiene
intimate care products
Saforelle
emollient cream
References
- Murina F., Caimi C., Di Pierro F., Di Francesco S., Cetin I. Features of the vaginal and vestibular microbioma in patients with vestibulodynia: a case-control study. J. Low Genit. Tract Dis. 2020; 24(3): 290-4. https://dx.doi.org/10.1097/LGT.0000000000000523.
- Pagan L., Ederveen R.A.M., Huisman B.W., Schoones J.W., Zwittink R.D., Schuren F.H.J. et al. The human vulvar microbiome: a systematic review. Microorganisms. 2021; 9(12): 2568. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9122568.
- Raimondi S., Candeliere F., Amaretti A., Foschi C., Morselli S., Gaspari V. et al. Vaginal and anal microbiome during Chlamydia trachomatis infections. Pathogens. 2021; 10(10): 1347. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10101347.
- Park S.Y., Lee E.S., Lee S.R., Kim S.H., Chae H.D. Vaginal microbiome is associated with vulvodynia, vulvar pain syndrome: a case-control study. Sex Med. 2021; 9(2): 100314. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.esxm.2020.100314
- Liu X., Zhuo Yi., Zhou Yu., Hu J., Wen H., Xiao C. Analysis of the vulvar skin microbiota in asymptomatic women and patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus based on 16S rRNA sequencing. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 2022; 10: 842031. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.842031
- https://www.biocodexmicrobiotainstitute.com/en/international-microbiota-observatory/2023/focus-women-health
- Romero R., Hassan S.S., Gajer P., Tarca A.L., Fadrosh D.W., Nikita L. et al. The composition and stability of the vaginal microbiota of normal pregnant women is different from that of non-pregnant women. Microbiome. 2014; 2(1): 4. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/2049-2618-2-4
- Kuon R.J., Togawa R., Vomstein K., Weber M., Goeggl T., Strowitzki T. et al. Higher prevalence of colonization with Gardnerella vaginalis and gram-negative anaerobes in patients with recurrent miscarriage and elevated peripheral natural killer cells. J. Reprod. Immunol. 2017; 120: 15-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jri.2017.03.001
- Giakoumelou S., Wheelhouse N., Cuschieri K., Entrican G., Howie S.E., Horne A.W. The role of infection in miscarriage. Hum. Reprod. Update. 2016; 22(1):116-33. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmv041
- Роговская С.И., Бебнева Т.Н., Москвичёва В.С. Радзинский В.Е., ред. Микробиота влагалища и цервикальные неоплазии. Участие микрофлоры в канцерогенезе шейки матки: Информационный бюллетень. М.: Редакция журнала Status Praesens; 2021. 20 с. [Rogovskaya S.I., Bebneva T.N., Moskvicheva V.S. Radzinsky V.E., ed. Vaginal microbiota and cervical neoplasia. The participation of microflora in the carcinogenesis of the cervix: An information bulletin. Moscow: Status Praesens; 2021. 20 p. (in Russian)].
- Bohbot J.M. Ecossistema vaginal e produtos de higiene íntima. Mundo Médico; 2005.
- Berlier P. Soins d’hygiène vulvopérinéale. Médecine & enfance. 1997; 17: 105-7.
- Anderson M.R., Klink K., Cohrssen A. Evaluation of vaginal complaints. JAMA. 2004; 291(11): 1368-79. https://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.291.11.1368.
- Lin C.C., Lu J.M., Yang J.J., Chuang S.C., Ujiie T. Anti-inflammatory and radical scavenge effects of Arctium lappa. Am. J. Chin. Med. 1996; 24(2):127-37. https://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X96000177
- Canaval H., Bonilla J., Scarpetta C., Martínez F., Orejarena J., Solórzano D. A phase II clinical trial of burdock solution as an adjuvant in managing vulvovaginal pruritis in Columbia. Revista Colombiana de Obstetricia y Ginecología. 2010; 61(1): 42-8.
- Chan Y.S., Cheng L.N., Wu J.H., Chan E., Kwan Y.W., Lee S.M. et al. A review of the pharmacological effects of Arctium lappa (burdock). Inflammopharmacology. 2011; 19(5): 245-54. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10787-010-0062-4.
- Тетерина Т.А., Аполихина И.А., Сулейманова Ж.Ж. Роль и место надлежащей интимной гигиены у женщин в профилактике вульвовагинитов и бактериального вагиноза. Акушерство и гинекология. 2024; 12: 195-206. [Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A., Suleimanova Zh.Zh. The role and place of proper female intimate hygiene in preventing vulvovaginitis and bacterial vaginosis. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2024; (12): 195-206 (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2024.333
- Тетерина Т.А., Аполихина И.А., Бычкова А.Е. Интимная гигиена при атопических заболеваниях вульвы у женщин с отягощенным соматическим анамнезом. Акушерство и гинекология. 2024; 8: 185-94. [Teterina T.A., Apolikhina I.A., Bychkova A.E. Intimate hygiene in atopic vulvar diseases in women with a history of somatic diseases. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2024; (8): 185-94 (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2024.200
- САФОРЕЛЬ Гель для интимной гигиены БЕРЕЖНОЕ ОЧИЩЕНИЕ: СГР AM.02.48.01.001.R.000039.03.25 и Добровольная сертификация МГ RU.001.П5631 (доступно по запросу https://ru.biocodex.com/ru/). [SAFORELLE Gentle Cleansing Care: SGR AM.02.48.01.001.R.000039.03.25 and Voluntary Certification MG RU.001.P5631 (available upon request https://ru.biocodex.com/ru/) (in Russian)].
- САФОРЕЛЬ Ультра-мягкая пенка для интимной гигиены: СГР AM.02.48.01.001.R.000327.12.24 и Добровольная сертификация МГ RU.001.П5634 (доступно по запросу https://ru.biocodex.com/ru/). [Ultra-soft foam: SGR AM.02.48.01.001.R.000327.12.24 and Voluntary Certification MG RU.001.P5634 (available upon request https://ru.biocodex.com/ru/) (in Russian)].
- САФОРЕЛЬ Крем-эмолент увлажняющий для интимной зоны: СГР АМ.02.48.01.001.R.000038.03.25 и Добровольная сертификация МГ RU.001.П5633 (доступно по запросу https://ru.biocodex.com/ru/). [SAFORELLE Intimate Soothing Cream: SGR АМ.02.48.01.001.R.000038.03.25 and Voluntary certification MG RU.001.P5633 (available upon https://ru.biocodex.com/ru/ request)
- Costello E.K., DiGiulio D.B., Robaczewska A., Symul L., Wong R.J., Shaw G.M. et al. Abrupt perturbation and delayed recovery of the vaginal ecosystem following childbirth. Nat. Commun. 2023; 14(1): 4141. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-39849-9
- Аполихина И.А., Тетерина Т.А., Сулейманова Ж.Ж., Девяткина А.Р., Гасанова А.Р. Генитоуринарный лактационный синдром. Акушерство и гинекология. 2025; 1: 98-105. [Apolikhina I.A., Teterina Т.А., Suleymanova Zh.Zh., Devyatkina A.R., Gasanova A.R. Genitourinary syndrome of lactation. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2025; (1): 98-105 (in Russian)]. https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2024.320
- Neumann C.J., Pausan M.R., Haid V., Weiss E.C., Kolovetsiou-Kreiner V., Amtmann B. et al. The dynamics of the female microbiome: unveiling abrupt changes of microbial domains across body sites from prepartum to postpartum phases. Microbiol. Spectr. 2024; 12(8): e0014724. https://dx.doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.00147-24
- Bouchard T., Blackwell L., Brown S., Fehring R., Parenteau-Carreau S. Dissociation between cervical mucus and urinary hormones during the postpartum return of fertility in breastfeeding women. Linacre Q. 2018; 85(4): 399-411. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0024363918809698
- Palmer A.R., Likis F.E. Lactational atrophic vaginitis. J. Midwifery Womens Health. 2003; 48(4): 282-4. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s1526-9523(03)00143-0
- Shardell M., Gravitt P.E., Burke A.E., Ravel J., Brotman R.M. Association of vaginal microbiota with signs and symptoms of the genitourinary syndrome of menopause across reproductive stages. J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 2021; 76(9): 1542-50. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glab120
- Perelmuter S., Burns R., Shearer K., Grant R., Soogoor A., Jun S. et al. Genitourinary syndrome of lactation: a new perspective on postpartum and lactation-related genitourinary symptoms. Sex Med. Rev. 2024; 12(3): 279-87. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/sxmrev/qeae034
- Graziottin A., Di Simone N., Guarano A. Postpartum care: Clinical considerations for improving genital and sexual health. Eur. J. Obst. Gynecol. Reprod. Biol. 2024; 296: 250-7. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.02.037
Received 15.09.2025
Accepted 19.09.2025
About the Authors
Tatiana A. Teterina, PhD, Obstetrician-Gynecologist, USD Specialist, Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4, +7(963)961-67-44, palpebra@inbox.ru,https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0990-2302
Inna A. Apolikhina, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Aesthetic Gynecology and Rehabilitation, V.I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center
for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str., 4; Professor at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, Perinatology, and Reproductology, Institute of Professional Education, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (Sechenov University), apolikhina@inbox.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4581-6295
Nadezhda Yu. Katkova, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Additional Vocational Education, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 603005, Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, Minin and Pozharsky sqr., 10/1, katkova_nu@inbox.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6188-9769
Еkaterina V. Shaposhnikova, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Professional Education, Prof. V.F. Voyno-Yasenetsky Krasnoyarsk State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 660022, Russia, Krasnoyarsk, P. Zheleznyak str., 1, catrinaek@yandex.ru,
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8068-0699
Corresponding author: Tatiana A. Teterina, palpebra@inbox.ru
Similar Articles
