Advances in the Knowledge and Clinical Applications of Lactic Acid Bacteria as Probiotics in the Urogenital Tract

Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms administered in high numbers to produce beneficial and physiological effects on the host, are increasingly applied to the prevention and treatment of many clinical situations in both human beings and animals. The female urogenital tract is one of the targets of probiotics, mainly by the frequency of infectious diseases that affects patients of all ages, including pregnant women and, potentially, newborns. Urogenital infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates as well as with high health care costs. The development of a probiotic formula to control these situations is of great interest. In this review, the mechanisms that support the probiotic action of lactic acid bacteria in the urogenital tract are summarized. Animal models used to test their effect on certain pathologies as well as clinical trials performed in humans are described. Some products currently available on the market are also mentioned.