Hormonal contraception, cervicovaginal microbiota and human papillomavirus infection

Gross disruptions of resident cervicovaginal microbiota (CVM) cause bacterial vaginosis (BV) that is implicated in acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human papillomavirus (HPV) that is causally associated with cervical cancer. South Africa has a high burden for HPV. Knowledge on the Black South African CVM is scarce. We investigated the baseline structure and determinants of CVM in reproductive-age Black South African women. A greater understanding of the CVM populations has potential application in translational medicine.