Blog

In the past year, the Isala team has continued to work hard, so it is about time for an update! A few months after the first research phase (or our big summer campaign), the second research phase of Isala in Belgium followed. We found more and more evidence that the vaginal microbiome can be dynamic. To investigate this further, we invited 275 Belgian women to participate in this second research phase. Also in Peru, we have launched a sisterhood project with so far already more than 200 women who have donated samples. 

It’s that period of the year again – pun intended.

May 28th, we celebrate Menstrual Hygiene Day just like we do every year. This day was created to bring different actions and voices together and to put good menstrual health and hygiene in the spotlight. There is still far too little knowledge about this subject. For example, a study in the United States showed that only 21% of young people in elementary school had learned about puberty and the biological ‘changes’. As a consequence, most girls didn’t really know anything about menstruation when they first got their period?! In any case, I would get a good scare and immediately think that something is seriously wrong!

Imagine that you are able to eat healthy for your vagina. Maybe a bit of an odd thought, isn’t it? But more and more research shows that food can indeed have an effect on your vaginal ecosystem. That is why we decided to also ask questions about your dietary habits in the Isala surveys. 

Did you know that current vaginal probiotics often do not even contain bacteria that come from the vagina? How odd? That’s why we needed you. Yes, our research didn’t stop with mapping your vaginal microbiomes from the blue swabs. We also want to work on new ‘living’ medicines with good vaginal lactobacilli, to help women who have less of the good ones. That is exactly why we asked you to also send us a pink swab. 

Today we reflect on the fact that almost 1 in 3 women has been a victim of abuse in her life. It is the ‘International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women’. We also start today with 16 days of activism, concluding on December 10^th, 2021 – the day on which the International Day of Human Rights is commemorated. All over the world, iconic buildings and venues turn orange to advocate for a nonviolent future. Be sure to look out for these orange lights and remember the meaning!

Almost a year ago, I wrote a blog about vaginal microbiomes and ethnicity. As a Isala team member, born and raised in Peru, I am now super excited that, thanks to the global minds starting grant, we could now extend Isala to Perú, where “Isala” becomes “Laura”, named after Esther Rodriguez Dulanto (1872-1919), the first female physician in Perú.