The microbial ecosystem of the female urogenital tract is composed of many niche microenvironments across multiple organ systems in the urinary and reproductive tract. It is complex and contains a variety of bacteria, archaea, viruses, yeast, and protozoa—Many of which are still unidentified or whose functionality is unknown. Unlike the gut microbiome, whose composition is relatively stable in the absence of external perturbations, the urogenital microbiome is constantly shifting in response to biological cycles such as hormonal fluctuations during menstruation. Microbial composition differs between women but the dominance of some microbial families, such as Lactobacillaceae and other lactic acid-producing bacteria, are shared. Research suggests that it is difficult to define a universal healthy urogenital microbiome and consequently map a path to recovery from disease due to dysbiosis. Due to its temporal shifts, the female urogenital microbiome offers a unique opportunity to examine the biological mechanisms that work to restore a microbiome to its baseline. Common functional disorders in women’s health are often difficult to diagnose and treat, are prone to recurrence, and can lead to subfertility or infertility. Knowledge of the interconnected microorganism communities along the continuum of the female reproductive tract could revolutionize the quality of women’s healthcare.

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Fecal transplant refers to any method of delivery of healthy human stool to the colon of a recipient. This therapy is now gaining standard-of-care designation in the United States, Australia, and many parts of Europe for treating resistant Clostridium difficile infection). This literature review describes fecal transplant protocols. It highlights the variety of techniques used to screen stool donors; prepare and deliver treatment; and how, despite these variations, safety and efficacy remain high. It highlights the various ways to best mitigate safety while also recommending the direction in which clinical and research communities can move to continue to provide access to fecal microbiota transplant in a cost-effective manner.