The Truth About Our Vaginas: Why Black Women Deserve More Than “One-Size-Fits-All” Science

Let’s talk about something we don’t talk about enough—our vaginal health. A powerful study from Virginia Commonwealth University finally put data behind something many of us have felt for years: Black women have different vaginal microbiomes than white women, and it's time the medical world caught up.

Researchers looked at over 1,200 African American women and compared them to 400+ white women. The results? Our microbiomes—basically, the natural bacteria that live in and protect the vagina—are not the same. While white women were more likely to have a vagina dominated by Lactobacillus (the “good” bacteria most medical guidelines are based on), Black women showed more diversity in bacterial species, including higher levels of Gardnerella and BVAB1, which are linked to bacterial vaginosis (BV).
Why does this matter? Because BV isn’t just about odor or discomfort—it’s tied to more serious issues like pelvic infections, higher STI risk, and complications during pregnancy. And yet, the healthcare system still uses treatment standards based on white women’s biology. That’s a problem.

The study also found that things like pregnancy, alcohol, and lifestyle habits had some influence—but the most consistent factor in these microbiome differences was simply being a Black woman. It’s not about what we’re doing wrong. It’s about how little science has actually studied us.

It’s time for research, products, and providers to stop pretending one approach works for everybody. Our bodies tell a different story—and they’ve been speaking loud and clear. Now we’ve got the science to back it up. Let’s use it to demand better care, better products, and a healthcare system that truly sees us.

Because our vaginas deserve science that was made with us in mind.