172 Pages 148 Color Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    Vulvovaginal Infections presents new knowledge to help clinicians accurately diagnose and treat their patients and highlights for researchers remaining unsolved problems and the most promising areas for continued investigation. Clinical gynecologists will find practical advice and extensive insight into solving real-life clinical scenarios.

    The book opens by presenting information on the microbiology of the vagina and vaginal immunology. It then discusses the diagnosis of vulvovaginal disease, including physical examination, screening processes, and laboratory testing.

    Diagnosis is followed by covering various vulvovaginal infections including bacterial vaginosis, Candida vulvovaginitis, Trichomonas vaginalis vaginitis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus genital infections, allergic vulvovaginitis, menopausal vulvovaginitis, cytolytic vaginosis, aerobic vaginitis, and more.

    For each of these conditions, the book presents information on its background, microbiology, immunology, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Therapy details are provided with an emphasis on nuances that can be applied to women who fail to respond to medication prescribed or who respond and then become symptomatic once treatment has ended.

    This new edition discusses major advances in the characterization of endogenous microbiota that populate the genital tract in women of all ages. It also provides a more sophisticated appreciation of immune mechanisms found in the healthy female genital tract and alterations that increase both susceptibility and consequences of various infectious and noninfectious disorders. A major impetus for writing this new edition is to help the busy clinician, resident, or fellow by explaining advances in individual disorders in a manner that is relevant to their practice.

    Microbiology of the Vagina
    The Human Microbiome
    Birth to Puberty
    Reproductive Age Women
    Pregnancy
    Vulvar Microbiome
    Postmenopause
    The Uniqueness of the Human Vaginal Microbiome
    Lactic Acid
    Summary and Conclusions
    References

    Vaginal Immunology
    Vaginal Epithelial Cell Immunity
    Danger Signaling by Heat Shock Proteins
    Antibody Production in the Lower Genital Tract
    Sexual Intercourse and Vaginal Immunity
    Summary and Conclusions
    References

    Diagnosis of Vulvovaginal Disease
    Background
    Physician Focus on the Patient
    History
    Office Equipment Requirements for Diagnosis
    Physical Examination
    Pelvic Examination
    Laboratory Testing with Delayed Results
    References

    Candida Vulvovaginitis
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Bacterial Vaginosis
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Trichomonas vaginalis Vaginitis
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Cytolytic Vaginosis, Aerobic Vaginitis, and Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Genital Herpes
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Human Papillomavirus Genital Infections
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Prevention
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases of the Vulva and the Vagina
    Background
    Microbiology and Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Allergic Vulvovaginitis
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Menopausal Vulvovaginitis
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Vestibulodynia
    Background
    Microbiology
    Immunology
    Diagnosis
    Treatment
    References

    Dermatologic Disorders Causing Vulvar Disease
    Background
    Immunology and Microbiology
    Lichen Sclerosus
    Lichen Planus
    Aphthous Ulcers and Behçet’s Disease
    Pemphigus
    Diagnosis
    Inflammatory and Erosive Skin Disorders
    Treatment
    Psoriasis of the Vulva
    References

    Biography

    William J. Ledger, MD, FACOG, obstetrician and gynaecologist in chief, New York Weill Cornell Center, New York, New York, USA

    Steven S. Witkin, PhD, professor of immunology in obstetrics and gynecology, New York Weill Cornell Center, New York, New York, USA

    Praise for previous editions:

    "The style of writing is informal and easy to read… The immunology sections are relevant and clearly explained."
    The British Journal of Hospital Medicine

    "Provides extensive insight into the resolution of real-life clinical dilemmas… The chapter on Candida infection is possibly the best published review of this topic… A leap forward in the understanding and management of vulvovaginal disease."
    Clinical Infectious Diseases