Pregnancy is a period of intense hormonal and metabolic change and of changes in the body's immune defences. The microbiota (the community of microbes that lives in the human body) is affected too, and its composition shifts. Unwanted changes have been linked to complications such as preterm birth.
With the MICROBALANCE test, Bioscience Institute offers every expectant mother the chance to obtain a profile of her gut and vaginal microbiome.
The results of the analysis are not a diagnosis. They provide a microbiota profile that is useful for working out, with the help of qualified doctors and nutritionists, diet and lifestyle strategies that help correct any imbalances or improve the composition of the gut and vaginal bacterial flora.
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How the microbiota changes in pregnancy
During the first trimester the gut microbiota is similar to that of a woman who is not pregnant, but as the pregnancy goes on it changes, becoming less varied and richer in certain bacteria. During the third trimester further changes occur, with a reduction in some species and in the differences normally found from one woman to another. Many of the variations seen in late pregnancy are similar to those associated with metabolic syndrome and obesity, but in this context they have positive effects on the health of the woman and the baby.
The vaginal microbiome, an important shield against infections, also changes significantly. Its internal diversity decreases, while its stability increases. Lactobacillus species become more numerous, and the pH drops. In the later stages, however, the microbiota becomes more similar again to that of a woman who is not pregnant.
Why analyse the microbiome in pregnancy
- To support the colonisation of the baby's gut by a healthy bacterial flora, because in a vaginal birth the baby's gut is colonised by bacteria from the mother's gut and vaginal flora.
- Because the gut microbiota seems to be involved in intrauterine infections, as suggested by the finding of gut microbes in the amniotic fluid when the membranes rupture preterm.
How to analyse the microbiome in pregnancy
The composition of the microbiota can be assessed through microbiome analysis, that is, analysis of the genetic material of the gut or vaginal bacterial flora. The test is based on the analysis of the gene coding for a bacterial RNA molecule, 16S rRNA, which is sequenced using the advanced method of Next Generation Sequencing.
All that is required is a stool sample or a sample of vaginal fluid, which can be collected with a kit supplied by Bioscience Institute. The kit is then sent to the Bioscience laboratories, which extract the DNA, sequence it and carry out the bioinformatic analysis of the sequences obtained.
The MICROBALANCE test
MICROBALANCE is the Bioscience Institute test for the analysis of the gut and vaginal microbiome.
With MICROBALANCE, Bioscience Institute provides a platform for microbiome analysis (the genome of the microbiota) aimed at identifying any imbalances so that they can be corrected through strategies based on a healthy lifestyle and, if necessary, specific food supplements.
Learn more about the MICROBALANCE test
Request the microbiome analysis in pregnancy
Contact Bioscience Institute on the toll-free number 800 690914 for more information or to request the kit, or fill in the request form below to be contacted, with no obligation, by one of our trusted biologists.
Scientific content reviewed by the Bioscience Institute Scientific Board. · Last updated
The information on this page is for general education and does not replace a consultation with a physician.
