Microbiome and Vulvovaginitis

Abstract

Vulvovaginitis occurs in mostly reproductive aged women. Recurrent vaginitis affects overall quality of life, with a large financial burden on the patient, family, and health system. This review discusses a clinician's approach to vulvovaginitis with specific attention to the 2021 updated Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The authors discuss the role of the microbiome in vaginitis and evidence-based approaches for diagnosis and treatment of vaginitis. This review also provides updates on new considerations, diagnosis, management, and treatment of vaginitis. Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and genitourinary syndrome of menopause are discussed as differential diagnosis of vaginitis symptoms.

Keywords: Bacterial vaginosis; Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis; Microbiome; Trichomoniasis; Vaginal dysbiosis; Yeast infection.