'Vagina on a chip' to aid drug research

Scientists at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University have created a "vagina on a chip" to further research the vaginal microbiome, diseases, and potential drugs.

The vaginal microbiome is a complex bacterial ecosystem that's unique to everyone, board-certified OB/GYN Monte Swarup, MD previously told Mashable. Changes in the microbiome can occur due to age or hormone fluctuations, and sometimes those changes can result in infections. A couple of common issues that can occur are bacterial vaginosis (BV) and vulvovaginal candidiasis, also known as yeast infections.

BV can be treated with antibiotics, but reinfections are common. The condition can lead to more serious complications like pelvic inflammatory disease. If left untreated, it also doubles the risks of STIs and increases the risk of pre-term birth in pregnant people. If you're concerned about BV or any other vaginal infection, go see your doctor; at-home vaginal microbiome tests may not be reliable.

As reported in Scientific American, the human microbiome is much different than that of lab animals, so vaginal health is difficult to study in a laboratory. That's why scientists crafted the "vagina on a chip" — in order to have a model of the human microbiome in a lab setting. The chip contains human vaginal tissue from donors, as described in a paper published by the scientific journal Microbiome.

This isn't the first organ to be "chipped" in order to be studied; ones of lungs and intestines have also been created, according to Scientific American. While chips have their limitations — as they exist outside an actual body, with many more organs and bacteria — they have the potential to push research forward. As it is, the vaginal microbiome and infections are understudied, the New York Times reported. Aside from the logistical laboratory reasons, researchers cited a lack of funding for this. Perhaps the "vagina chip" is the first step in changing that.