Table 1.

Predominant microorganisms throughout the female lifecycle.

Woman’s lifecycle	Predominant Microorganisms	References
Childhood	Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria, such as Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Veillonella Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria, such as Actinomyces, Bifidobacterium, Peptococcus, Peptostreptococcus, and Propionibacterium Aerobic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococccus epidermidis, Streptococcus viridans, and Enterococcus faecalis	[12,13]
Prepuberal	Low abundance of lactobacilli, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Prevotella bivia	[13]
Puberty	Predominant species are Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus iners, and Lactobacillus jensenii	[14]
Adult	Similar to puberty, Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus iners, and Lactobacillus jensenii	[14]
Menopause	Predominant species are Lactobacillus crispatus, Lactobacillus iners, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Prevotella and a lower abundance of Candida, Mobiluncus, Staphylococcus, Bifidobacterium, and Gemella	[15]