Women’s health is essential to global societal and economic wellbeing, yet health disparities remain prevalent. The vaginal microbiota plays a critical role in health, with research indicating that reduced levels of core bacteria, such as lactobacilli, are associated with conditions like bacterial vaginosis (BV) and in-creased infection susceptibility. Lower levels of vaginal lactobacilli are reported more frequently in women of African and Latin American descent compared with women of European and Asian descent. However, geographical and other study inclusion and analysis biases influence current research. This opinion highlights the need for a more comprehensive understanding of a ‘healthy’ vaginal microbiome. It underscores efforts to broaden global research on microbiome di-versity in socially relevant contexts, avoiding inappropriate applications of terms such as race and ethnicity.

Fil: Vinderola, Celso Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Lactología Industrial. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Instituto de Lactología Industrial; Argentina

Fil: Binetti, Ana Griselda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Lactología Industrial. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ingeniería Química. Instituto de Lactología Industrial; Argentina

Fil: Collado, Maria Carmen. Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas; España

Fil: Pinedo Cancino, Viviana. Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana; Perú

Fil: Dominguez Bello, Maria Gloria. Rutgers University; Estados Unidos

Fil: Chávez Sarmiento, Sandra Johanna. Universiteit Antwerp; Bélgica

Fil: Ojeda Reyna, Carolina Esmeralda. Universiteit Antwerp; Bélgica

Fil: Miller, Corrie. University of Hawaii at Manoa; Estados Unidos

Fil: Arista Flores, Katty Madeleine. Universiteit Antwerp; Bélgica