Where Does Microbiome Imbalance Occur?

Dysbiosis typically occurs when the bacteria in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract — which includes your stomach and intestines — become unbalanced. Some effects of dysbiosis, such as stomach upset, are temporary and mild. In many cases, your body can correct the imbalance without treatment.

Where is the gut microbiome located?

Trillions of these microbes exist mainly inside your intestines and on your skin. Most of the microbes in your intestines are found in a “pocket” of your large intestine called the cecum, and they are referred to as the gut microbiome.

What causes microbiome imbalance?

An imbalance in the microbiome can occur because of overuse of antibiotics, which may cause an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria and yeast. A fully functioning microbiome may never develop in infants who are not born vaginally or who are not breastfed.