Characterization of the vaginal microbiota of women under fertile age and study of correlations with gynecological disorders

The study aimed to characterize, in women under fertile age, the composition and dynamics of the vaginal microbiota as well as to in-depth study correlations among microbiota and gynecological disorders

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 45 years;
• Presence of at least one vaginal sign or symptom (leucorrhoea, burning, itching, and subjective vaginal discomfort);
• Presence of at least 3 Amsel criteria;
• Nugent score ≥ 7;
• lactobacillary grade ≥ 2 (LBG) (according to Donders classification);
• presence of blastospores and/or pseudohyphae evaluated by fresh mount microscopy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 years;
• Nugent score < 7;
• presence of sexually transmitted disease due to Chlamydia, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, or Trichomonas vaginalis as well as specific cervico-vaginitis or severe vulvovaginal symptoms related to acute candidiasis;
• Clinically apparent herpes simplex infection;
• Human papillomavirus or human immunodeficiency virus infections;
• Use of antibiotic, antifungal, probiotic, or immunosuppressive drugs during the past four weeks;
• Use of vaginal contraceptives;
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding, chronic diseases, neoplastic disease, diabetes, genital tract bleeding)

Women in fertile age

healthy volunteers with vaginal microbiota imbalance