ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the current state of knowledge of the composition of the bacterial microbiome in the lower female genital tract under different conditions and attempts to analyze the biological significance of the observations. It describes the further analysis and interpretation of the vaginal microbiome in women with defined pathological conditions such as vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis. The diversity of microorganisms most commonly present in the vagina of healthy reproductive age women is delineated. The most frequent changes in composition of the vaginal microbiota in the majority of women were observed during menstruation and following sexual intercourse. Only a few studies have evaluated alterations in the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy, and so the data should properly be viewed as tentative and may be subject to modification. The end product, lactic acid, renders the vagina acidic and retards or prevents the growth of other bacteria.
