Communities of microbiota have been associated with numerous health outcomes, and while much emphasis has been placed on the gastrointestinal niche, there is growing interest in the microbiome specific for female reproductive health and the health of their offspring. The vaginal microbiome plays an essential role not only in health and dysbiosis, but also potentially in successful fertilization and healthy pregnancies. In addition, microbial communities have been isolated from formerly forbidden sterile niches such as the placenta, breast, uterus, and Fallopian tubes, strongly suggesting an additional microbial role in women’s health. A combination of maternally linked prenatal, birth, and postnatal factors, together with environmental and medical interventions, influence early and later life through the microbiome. Here, we review the role of microbes in female health focusing on the vaginal tract and discuss how male and female reproductive microbiomes are intertwined with conception and how mother–child microbial transfer is a key determinant in infant health, and thus the next generation.

微生物群落已与许多健康结果相关联，尽管人们对胃肠生态位给予了极大重视，但对女性生殖健康及其后代健康所特有的微生物组的兴趣日益浓厚。阴道微生物组不仅在健康和营养不良中起着至关重要的作用，而且还可能在成功受精和健康怀孕中发挥重要作用。此外，已经从以前禁止的无菌壁sterile（如胎盘，乳房，子宫和输卵管）中分离出微生物群落，强烈暗示了微生物在女性健康中的作用。孕产妇相关的产前，出生和产后因素的结合，再加上环境和医学干预，均会通过微生物组影响生命的早期和晚期。这里，