title: The vaginal ecosystem.
abstract: The ecology of vaginal flora is highly susceptible to numerous endogenous and exogenous influences. Possible mechanisms that might influence changes in the vaginal flora are microbial antibiosis, adhesion to the vaginal epithelial lining, e.g., availability of receptors, hormonal changes including physiologic alterations, disease states, drug therapy, sexual activity, and to a lesser extent, the immunologic status of the person. The role that these mechanisms may play in promoting vaginitis, vaginosis, and possibly pelvic inflammatory disease is explored.
authors.affiliation: Uppsala University Centre for STD Research, Sweden.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Mårdh
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001665:Binding Sites; D002168:Campylobacter fetus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000009:adverse effects; D004463:Ecology; D004848:Epithelium; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D014627:Vaginitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004967:Estrogens