title: Vulvodynia and fungal association: a preliminary report.
abstract: Vulvodynia (vulvar pain syndrome) is a chronic multifactorial disease affecting almost 13 million women in the USA and can lead to morbidity and a reduced quality of life. We hypothesize that an initial microbiological insult in the vagina causes modifications in the biological vaginal milieu and/or an alteration on the lactobacilli flora. The vaginal milieu responds to the insult by developing an inflammatory reaction with abnormal cytokine production. These hypotheses were tested quantifying vaginal lactobacillus and cytokines, in patients with vulvodynia compared to matched healthy controls. Our preliminary data suggest a vaginal flora alteration and an immunological response involving Candida in patients with vulvodynia. Ongoing studies will assist us to clarify these findings.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center - Permian Basin, 800 W 4th Street, Odessa, TX 79763, United States. gary.ventolini@ttuhsc.edu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ventolini
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Gygax
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Adelson
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Cool
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005658:Fungi / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D056650:Vulvodynia / Q000382:microbiology*