Vaginal States: Detection of Conversion Processes in Women Using Contraception and Characterization of Vaginal Lactobacillus Species

Vaginal microecology and its role in human papillomavirus infection and human papillomavirus associated cervical lesions

The vaginal microecology comprises the vaginal microbiome, immune microenvironment, vaginal anatomy, and the cervicovaginal fluid, which is rich in metabolites, enzymes, and cytokines. Investigating its role in the female reproductive system holds paramount significance. The advent of next-generation sequencing enabled a more profound investigation into the structure of the vaginal microbial community in relation to the female reproductive system. Human papillomavirus infection is prevalent among women of reproductive age, and persistent oncogenic HPV infection is widely recognized as a factor associated with cervical cancer. Extensive previous research has demonstrated that dysbiosis of vaginal microbiota characterized by a reduction in Lactobacillus species, heightens susceptivity to HPV infection, consequently contributing to persistent HPV infection and the progression of cervical lesion. Likewise, HPV infection can exacerbate dysbiosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of current literatures and to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the interaction between vaginal microecology and HPV infection, with the intention of offering valuable insights for future clinical interventions.

Endometriosis and dysbiosis: State of art

Endometriosis is a complex and heterogeneous disease affecting approximately 10% of reproductive age women. The hypothesis that alterations in the microbiota are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis has been postulated. Possible explanations for the implications of dysbiosis in endometriosis include the Bacterial Contamination hypothesis and immune activation, cytokine-impaired gut function, altered estrogen metabolism and signaling. Thus, dysbiosis, disrupt normal immune function, leading to the elevation of proinflammatory cytokines, compromised immunosurveillance and altered immune cell profiles, all of which may contribute to the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The aim of this review is to summarize the available literature data about the relationship between microbiota and endometriosis.