biostudies-literatureUnknown9(3)Winston McPherson G<h4>Purpose</h4>The goal of this preliminary study is to describe the vaginal microbiome of transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) individuals using nonculture-based techniques. TGNB individuals may undergo gender-affirming surgical procedures, which can include the creation of a neovagina. Little is known about microbial species that comprise this environment in states of health or disease.<h4>Methods</h4>In this pilot study, vaginal swabs were self-collected from 15 healthy self-identified TGNB participants (age 26-69 years) and 8 cisgender comparator participants (age 27-50 years) between 2017 and 2018. Next-generation 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to profile individual bacterial communities from all study samples.<h4>Results</h4>The TGNB cohort demonstrated significantly higher intraindividual (alpha) diversity than the cisgender group (<i>p</i>=0.0003). Microbial species commensal to the gut and skin were identified only in specimens from TGNB participants. Although <i>Lactobacillus</i> species were dominant in all cisgender comparator samples, they were found at low relative abundance (≤3%) in TGNB samples.<h4>Conclusion</h4>In this study, specimens collected from neovaginas showed increased alpha diversity and substantially different composition compared with natal vaginas. In contrast to natal vaginas, neovaginas were not dominated by <i>Lactobacillus</i>, but were hosts to many microbial species. Studies that help to improve our understanding of the neovaginal microbiome may enable clinicians to differentiate between healthy and diseased neovaginal states.Transgender health205-211https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11299096biostudies-literatureThe Vaginal Microbiome of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Individuals.PMC11299096Greene DNWinston McPherson GSalipante SJHoffman NGGoldstein ZRongitsch JDy GWPenewit KfalseThe Vaginal Microbiome of Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Individuals.<h4>Purpose</h4>The goal of this preliminary study is to describe the vaginal microbiome of transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) individuals using nonculture-based techniques. TGNB individuals may undergo gender-affirming surgical procedures, which can include the creation of a neovagina. Little is known about microbial species that comprise this environment in states of health or disease.<h4>Methods</h4>In this pilot study, vaginal swabs were self-collected from 15 healthy self-identified TGNB participants (age 26-69 years) and 8 cisgender comparator participants (age 27-50 years) between 2017 and 2018. Next-generation 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing was used to profile individual bacterial communities from all study samples.<h4>Results</h4>The TGNB cohort demonstrated significantly higher intraindividual (alpha) diversity than the cisgender group (<i>p</i>=0.0003). Microbial species commensal to the gut and skin were identified only in specimens from TGNB participants. Although <i>Lactobacillus</i> species were dominant in all cisgender comparator samples, they were found at low relative abundance (≤3%) in TGNB samples.<h4>Conclusion</h4>In this study, specimens collected from neovaginas showed increased alpha diversity and substantially different composition compared with natal vaginas. In contrast to natal vaginas, neovaginas were not dominated by <i>Lactobacillus</i>, but were hosts to many microbial species. Studies that help to improve our understanding of the neovaginal microbiome may enable clinicians to differentiate between healthy and diseased neovaginal states.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jun2025-07-27T03:10:51.511Z2025-07-27T03:10:51.511ZS-EPMC112990963910926210.1089/trgh.2022.0100