The urine microbiome refers to the collection of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms present in urine. 

The specific composition of these micro-organisms differs from each person and can be influenced by factors such as age, gender, diet, lifestyle, and underlying health conditions.

Why is the Urine Microbiome important?

1. Protection against infections:
   • A balanced urine microbiome can help protect against urinary tract infections (UTIs). This is because beneficial bacteria in the urinary tract may inhibit the growth of pathogenic organisms & bacteria, such as E. coli. This therefore reduces the risk of infections. 
   • In comparison, dysbiosis (an imbalance in the microbiome), has been linked to recurrent UTIs (with E. coli being the most common cause of UTIs).
2. Chronic Urinary Tract Conditions
   • Emerging research suggests that an imbalance in the urine microbiome, such as the overgrowth of specific harmful bacteria, may contribute to various urinary tract conditions, including recurrent UTIs, interstitial cystitis, and overactive bladder syndrome.
3. Link to other systems & microbiomes
   • The urine microbiome is not isolated; it is part of a larger genitourinary system that includes the gut and vaginal microbiomes. These interconnected microbiomes influence each other, and disruptions in one can affect the others. 
   • Therefore, your urine microbiome health can influence other systems in your body (and vice versa). For example, the transfer of bacteria from the gut to the urinary tract can affect the risk of infections and other conditions.
   • For women, the urine microbiome is closely related to the vaginal microbiome, and imbalances in these microbial communities can affect reproductive health. Issues such as bacterial vaginosis (BV) and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are often linked, with the microbial balance in one area influencing the other.
4. Immune System Regulation:
   • The urine microbiome may also play a role in regulating the immune response. A healthy microbial community in the urinary tract could help modulate inflammation and prevent conditions such as Endometriosis.
5. Pelvic Health:
   • The urine microbiome may also play a role in pelvic health conditions, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and incontinence. 

What does ScreenMe’s Urine Microbiome Test screen for?

We screen 100% of the bacteria and/or yeast present in your sample. Utilising gold-standard, NGS (next-generation sequencing) technology, we are able to do this with 99.9% accuracy, making us the most comprehensive and accurate test available. 

As a part of our service, with each test you also receive, a free 1:1 support call with an intimate health practitioner, a report along with tailored recommendations and plan of action. This allows you to access the knowledge and care you need in order to take back control of your intimate health and truly optimise this. 

Conclusion

The discovery of the urine microbiome has opened up a new frontier in microbiome research. Emerging research increasingly shows this microbiome can play a crucial role in health and disease including: risk of disease, infections, inflammation and chronic conditions. However, there is still a lot more research that is required in order to further evidence such; and to help pave the way for future treatments, diagnostics and care that ultimately supports those who are struggling with these health concerns. 

Jessica Hobbis

References: 

Dong, Q., Nelson, D. E., Toh, E., Diao, L., Gao, X., Fortenberry, J. D., & Van Der Pol, B. (2011). “The microbial communities in male first catch urine are highly similar to those in paired urethral swab specimens.” PLoS ONE, 6(5), e19709

Gottschick, C., Deng, Z. L., Vital, M., Masur, C., Abels, C., Pieper, D. H., & Wagner-Döbler, I. (2017). “The Urinary Microbiota of Men and Women and Its Changes in Women during Bacterial Vaginosis and Antibiotic Treatment.” Microbiome, 5(1), 99.

Siddiqui, H., Nederbragt, A. J., Lagesen, K., Jeansson, S. L., & Jakobsen, K. S. (2011). “Assessing diversity of the female urine microbiota by high throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA amplicons.” BMC Microbiology, 11, 244.

Wolfe, A. J., & Brubaker, L. (2015). “Urobiome: the bacterial communities of the urinary tract.” Nature Reviews Urology, 12(2), 81-90.

Zhou, G., & Luan, H. (2018). “Exploring the urine metabolome of bacterial vaginosis and its changes with metronidazole treatment.” Metabolomics, 14(10), 137.