Vaginal microbiota: different roles of lactobacilli and community instability in chronic vulvovaginal discomfort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chronic vulvovaginal discomfort (CVD) is a complex syndrome with many unresolved questions regarding its etiology, diagnosis, and management in relation to the vaginal microbiota.

Methods

Cervicovaginal fluid of 91 CVD patients and 35 healthy controls was obtained at the beginning and end of the follow-up period. The bacterial community state types (CST) in the vagina were assessed using next-generation sequencing (NGS). CVD patients were divided into four study groups by etiology: non-specific, yeast, bacterial, and mixed.

Results

The vaginal microbiota was characterized by 1) predominance of CST3 in all study groups, 2) a relatively higher proportion of CST2 (29.2%) and CST4 (20.0%) in the non-specific group and controls, respectively, 3) lack of CST4 (4.

SUBMITTER: Buchta V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12399642 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature