Couples living together share a significant portion of their gut, oral, and skin bacteria, with implications for their overall health.

• Couples may share between 13% and 30% of their gut bacteria, and up to 38% of their oral microbiome.
• Research by Associate Professor of Microbial Bioinformatics, Nottingham Trent University, and PhD Candidate, Skin Microbiology, Nottingham Trent University, highlights the shared microbial communities.
• While some shared bacteria can be beneficial, others may be linked to negative health outcomes like diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and meningitis, though more research is needed to fully understand the health impact.