Changes in genital anatomy and microbiology in girls between age 6 and age 12 years: a longitudinal study

Recent advances in understanding of multifaceted changes in the vaginal microenvironment: implications in vaginal health and therapeutics

The vagina endures multifaceted changes from neonatal to menopausal phases due to hormonal flux, metabolite deposition, and microbial colonization. These features have important implications in women's health. Several pre-factors show dynamic characteristics according to the phases that shift the vaginal microbiota from anaerobes to aerobes which is a hallmark of healthy vaginal environment. These factors include oestrogen levels, glycogen deposition, and vaginal microstructure. In the adult phase, Lactobacillus is highly dominant and regulates pH, adherence, aggregation, immune modulation, synthesis of bacteriocins, and biosurfactants (BSs) which are antagonistic to pathogens. Maternal factors are protective by favouring the colonization of lactobacilli in the vagina in the neonatal phase, which diminishes with age. The dominance of lactobacilli and dysbiosis in the adult phase depends on intrinsic and extrinsic factors in women, which vary between ethnicities. Recent developments in probiotics used against vaginal microbiome dysbiosis have shown great promise in restoring the normal microbiota including preventing the loss of beneficial bacteria. However, further in-depth studies are warranted to ensure long-term protection by probiotics. This review highlights various aspects of the vaginal microenvironment in different phases of growth and diverse ethnicities. Furthermore, it discusses future trends for formulating more effective population-specific probiotics and implications of paraprobiotics and postbiotics as effective therapeutics.

[Prospective forensic study on the characterization of genital examination in women with consented sexual activity]

OBJECTIVE

The number of women victims of sexual assault remains high, despite prevention and information campaigns. These victims can be adolescent girls, women of childbearing age or postmenopausal women. As part of examinations of victims of sexual assault, the morpho-anatomical diversity of the female genitalia requires knowledge of the physiological variations existing by the practitioners caring for these victims. Our work aimed to describe and characterize the genital examination of women with consented sexual activity.

METHOD

Our cohort consisted of 196 women aged 14 to 81, examined in the context of medical gynecology consultations in two French maternity hospitals.

RESULTS

Recent genital traumatic injuries were found in 12.8% of women whose last sexual intercourse was less than 5 days old. Intact hymens, free from traumatic tearing despite regular sexual activity, were present in 10.7% of these women.

CONCLUSION

Thus, in many cases, genital examination alone cannot confirm or deny the existence of prior sexual intercourse, whether or not it was consented to. The development of work on data on female genital anatomy would make it possible to optimize the medico legal care of victims of sexual assault.

Impact of mechanical force on posterior hymen - Implications for sexual abuse injury interpretations

BACKGROUND

Residual anogenital findings following sexual abuse are rare. There is a need for further understanding of the interpretation of hymenal findings.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluates which is more significant with respect to posterior hymenal tissue morphology - previous consensual penile vaginal penetrations or vaginal delivery.

DESIGN

A post hoc study comparing nulliparous and parous hymen in heterosexually active female volunteers, with the focus on healed hymenal defects. Adult posterior hymen configuration was evaluated using labial separation or traction. When needed, the hymenal status was evaluated using a swab. A colposcopy with photography was used for documentation. Experts reviewed all taken photographs and recorded the posterior hymenal defects. Photographs were analyzed to determine the level of agreement.

PARTICIPANTS

Eighty-seven adult female volunteers were recruited to participate in the study by a personal invitation to a gynecological examination to document anogenital findings. The examination was performed following consensual vaginal intercourse. Age ranged from 20 to 53 (median 26.6years).

RESULTS

Single site posterior hymenal transections were significantly more likely in the nulliparous volunteers, compared to the parous volunteers (22/51, 43.1% vs. 4/36, 11.1%, p<0.001). A deep notch, which extends nearly to the base of the hymen was detected in one (2.0%) sexually active nulliparous volunteer, and surprisingly two (3.9%) volunteers had a single, more superficial hymenal notch, that is not considered a sign of previous vaginal penetration. The width of the ridge of the posterior vaginal wall in the vestibule was measured from the anterior part of the navicular fossa to the base of the hymen. The mean width of the ridge of the posterior vaginal wall was 3.1mm (SD2.2, range 0-8) in the photos of 41 nulliparous volunteers. The prevalence of 'double leaf hymen' was 2/87 (2.3%). The inter-rater reliability with a Kappa score of 0.69 indicated strong agreement.

CONCLUSION

The myth "hymen is present only in virgins" has now been invalidated. The absence of posterior hymen increases delivery by delivery in adult female volunteers. The space between the anterior part of the navicular fossa and the base of hymen, 'the ridge of the posterior vaginal wall' in the vestibule was evaluated for the first time among studies evaluating hymenal status. Careful assessment of the ridge of the posterior vaginal wall is needed to avoid misinterpretations when evaluating the depth of a hymenal defect.

Vaginal microbiota of adolescent girls prior to the onset of menarche resemble those of reproductive-age women

Puberty is an important developmental stage wherein hormonal shifts mediate the physical and physiological changes that lead to menarche, but until now, the bacterial composition of vaginal microbiota during this period has been poorly characterized. We performed a prospective longitudinal study of perimenarcheal girls to gain insight into the timing and sequence of changes that occur in the vaginal and vulvar microbiota during puberty. The study enrolled 31 healthy, premenarcheal girls between the ages of 10 and 12 years and collected vaginal and vulvar swabs quarterly for up to 3 years. Bacterial composition was characterized by Roche 454 pyrosequencing and classification of regions V1 to V3 of 16S rRNA genes. Contrary to expectations, lactic acid bacteria, primarily Lactobacillus spp., were dominant in the microbiota of most girls well before the onset of menarche in the early to middle stages of puberty. Gardnerella vaginalis was detected at appreciable levels in approximately one-third of subjects, a notable finding considering that this organism is commonly associated with bacterial vaginosis in adults. Vulvar microbiota closely resembled vaginal microbiota but often exhibited additional taxa typically associated with skin microbiota. Our findings suggest that the vaginal microbiota of girls begin to resemble those of adults well before the onset of menarche.

IMPORTANCE

This study addresses longitudinal changes in vaginal and vulvar microbial communities prior to and immediately following menarche. The research is significant because microbial ecology of the vagina is an integral aspect of health, including resistance to infections. The physiologic changes of puberty and initiation of cyclic menstruation are likely to have profound effects on vaginal microbiota, but almost nothing is known about changes that normally occur during this time. Our understanding has been especially hampered by the lack of thorough characterization of microbial communities using techniques that do not rely on the cultivation of fastidious bacteria, as well as a dearth of studies on girls in the early to middle stages of puberty. This study improves our understanding of the normal development of vaginal microbiota during puberty and onset of menarche and may better inform clinical approaches to vulvovaginal care of adolescent girls.

[Practical guide to the examination and interpretation of genital lesions of minor female victims of sexual assault]

Through a comprehensive review of the literature on sexual assault, the authors propose to clarify the different stages of the exam and help the practitioner to the forensic interpretation of lesions. The authors describe the basic principles that make consensus in how to interview victims in order to increase the reliability of the information collected. The various medical data that must be collected allowing to guide diagnosis (urogenital symptoms, sexual behaviour disorder) or facilitate the interpretation of lesions (age of puberty, use of tampons…) are specified as well as the different positions of examination and their association to other complementary techniques (Foley catheter, colposcopy, toluidine blue). The authors present a simple decision tree that can help the practitioner to interpret the laceration of the hymen. They detail the description and forensic interpretation of all genital lesions that may be encountered as a result of sexual assault, and the pitfalls to avoid. Finally, two main problems in the interpretation of lesions are described, the absence of injury after penetration and the accidental genital lesions.

Bacterial vaginosis in the context of lichen sclerosus in a prepubertal girl

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus cause most vulvovaginal infections seen in prepubertal girls. Bacterial vaginosis is a common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in women of childbearing age but is rare in children. Data are insufficient to suggest that bacterial vaginosis is an exclusively sexually transmitted disease. We report a 10-year-old girl with no history or suspicion of sexual abuse who developed bacterial vaginosis in the context of a lichen sclerosus being treated with tacrolimus ointment. Secondary bacterial infection in lichen sclerosus is uncommon. We speculate that the immunosuppressive effect of topical tacrolimus could have triggered the infection.

Anal findings in children with and without probable anal penetration: a retrospective study of 1115 children referred for suspected sexual abuse

Interpreting the significance of anal findings in child sexual abuse can be difficult. The aim of this study is to compare the frequency of anal features between children with and without anal penetration. This is a retrospective blinded review of consecutive charts of children seen for suspected sexual abuse at a regional referral center from January 1. 2005 to December 31. 2009 Based on predetermined criteria, children were classified into two groups: low or high probability of anal penetration. The charts of 1115 children were included, 84% girls and 16% boys with an age range from 0.17 to 18.83 years (mean 9.20 year). 198 children (17.8%) were classified as belonging to the anal penetration group. Bivariate analysis showed a significant positive association between the following features and anal penetration: Anal soiling (p=0.046), fissure (p=0.000), laceration (p=0.000) and total anal dilatation (p=0.000). Logistic regression analysis and stratification analysis confirmed a positive association of soiling, anal lacerations and anal fissures with anal penetration. Total anal dilation was significantly correlated with a history of anal penetration in girls, in children examined in the prone knee chest position and in children without anal symptoms. Several variables were found to be significantly associated with anal penetration, including the controversial finding of total anal dilatation. Due to limitations in the study design, this finding should still be interpreted with caution in the absence of a clear disclosure from the child.