ABSTRACT
Although there is a considerable body of literature regarding the composition of
the vaginal microflora, remarkably little is known of the microbiology of the
vulva. A comprehensive understanding of vulvar microbial ecology is hindered
by the anatomical reality that the vulva is likely not a single ecological niche,
but rather a structure that includes many unique and diverse microbial habitats.
From an ecological perspective, the vulva can be best thought of as a transitional
zone between the arid desert of external skin surfaces and the tropical rainforest
of the vagina. Thus, the microbial ecology of the vulva is not a single entity but a
complex construction, the nature of which is likely to be revealed in interwoven
yet distinctive parts, depending on: (i) the anatomical areas sampled, (ii) the
methodology used to analyze the samples, and (iii) the ability to describe the
evenness, composition, and richness of the microbial communities.
