By Hugo Francisco de Souza Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc. Mar 30 2026 A wide-ranging review finds that everyday factors from diet and alcohol to stress, hygiene, and sexual behaviour may influence microbial balance across four key body sites in women, with possible implications for infection risk, inflammation, and long-term health. Study: Shaping the Female Microbiome : A Review of Lifestyle Factors Influencing the Vaginal, Gut, Oral, and Skin Microenvironments. Image Credit: Julien