The Vaginal Microbiota and Behavioral Factors Associated With Genital Candida albicans Detection in Reproductive-Age Women

Abstract

A L. crispatus-dominated vaginal microbiota is thought to protect women from both development of bacterial vaginosis and incidence of sexually transmitted infections; however, our data suggest that L. crispatus is associated with increased C. albicans detection. Receptive oral sex may also be a risk factor for vaginal C. albicans colonization.