Author:

Keywords:

Adolescent, Adult, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Coitus, Female, Gentian Violet, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Longitudinal Studies, Menstrual Cycle, Menstruation, Phenazines, Species Specificity, Vagina, Vaginal Smears, Young Adult, Science & Technology, Multidisciplinary Sciences, Science & Technology - Other Topics, BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS, GARDNERELLA-VAGINALIS, ATOPOBIUM-VAGINAE, GENITAL-TRACT, RISK-FACTORS, L.-GASSERI, GRAM STAIN, WOMEN, FLORA, IDENTIFICATION, General Science & Technology

Abstract:

Although the vaginal microflora (VMF) has been well studied, information on the fluctuation of the different bacterial species throughout the menstrual cycle and the information on events preceding the presence of disturbed VMF is still very limited. Documenting the dynamics of the VMF during the menstrual cycle might provide better insights. In this study, we assessed the presence of different Lactobacillus species in relation to the BV associated species during the menstrual cycle, assessed the influence of the menstrual cycle on the different categories of vaginal microflora and assessed possible causes, such as menstruation and sexual intercourse, of VMF disturbance. To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal study in which swabs and Gram stains were available for each day of two consecutive menstrual cycles, whereby 8 grades of VMF were distinguished by Gram stain analysis, and whereby the swabs were cultured every 7(th) day and identification of the bacterial isolates was carried out with a molecular technique.