Background: in recent years, many studies were carried out to explore the role of vaginal microbiota in HPV infections and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) progression. The aim of this study was to conduct a review of the literature to analyze the interaction between the vaginal microbiota, the CIN, and the immunological response. Methods: we performed a literature search, considering papers published between November 2015 and September 2021. Results: despite significant evidence suggesting a role of vaginal microbiota in the pathogenesis of HPV-related lesions, some studies still struggle to demonstrate this correlation. However, the vaginal microbiota of HPV-positive women shows an increased diversity, combined with a reduced relative abundance of Lactobacillus spp. and a higher pH. In cervical dysplasia progression, a strong association is found with new bacteria, and with the deregulation of pathways and hyperexpression of cytokines leading to chronic inflammation. Conclusions: in HPV progression, there is a strong correlation between potential biomarkers, such as Sneathia and Delftia found in community state types IV and II, and chronic inflammation with cytokine overexpression. Better analysis of these factors could be of use in the prevention of the progression of the disease and, eventually, in new therapeutic strategies.

Background: This work analyzes the feasibility and effectiveness of barbed suture during laparoscopic myomectomy. Methods: Eight works have been carefully examined for the meta-analysis from all papers published online until November 2017. Results: Barbed suture proved to be superior to traditional suture technique in blood loss in laparoscopic myomectomy (Standardized Mean Difference [SMD] –0.650, 95% CI –1.420 to –0.119, p = 0.098, test for heterogenity p < 0.0001, I² = 95.54%), Hb drop (SMD –1.452, 95% CI –3.590 to 0.687, p = 0.183, test for heterogenity p < 0.0001, I² = 99.08%), suturing difficulty (SMD –0.638, 95% CI –0.935 to –0.342, p ≤ 0.001, test for heterogenity p = 0.25, I² = 27.84%), suturing time (SMD –1.197, 95% CI –1.848 to –0.549, p ≤0.001, test for heterogenity p = 0.0001, I² = 83.30%) and total operative time (SMD –0.687, 95% CI –0.804 to –0.569, p ≤ 0.001, test for heterogenity p = 0.292, I² = 17.44%). Barbed suture demonstrated to be better in comparison with the control group even with regard to the length of hospitalization (SMD –0.278, 95% CI –0.543 to 0.012, p = 0.040, test for heterogenity p = 0.025, I² = 61.85%), and to perioperative complications (SMD 0.708, 95% CI 0.503–0.996, p = 0.048, test for heterogenity p = 0.79, I² = 0%). Conclusion: Barbed suture significantly facilitates laparoscopic myomectomy by reducing the total operative/suturing time, estimated blood loss/Hb drop, and reduction of perioperative complications.

Human Papillomavirus is the main cause of cervical cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, anus, rectum, penis, vagina, and vulva. In recent years, considerable effort has been made to control HPV-induced diseases using either prophylactic or therapeutic approaches. A critical review of the literature about the therapeutic Human Papillomavirus vaccine was performed to analyze its efficacy in the treatment of female lower genital tract lesions and its possible perspective application in clinical practice. The most important medical databases were consulted, and all papers published from 2000 until 2021 were considered. We retrieved a group of seven papers, reporting the role of anti HPV therapeutic vaccines against the L2 protein in the order of their efficacy and safety in female lower genital tract disease. In addition, the immune response due to vaccine administration was evaluated. The development of therapeutic vaccines represents an interesting challenge for the treatment of HPV infection of the lower genital tract. Literature data underline that the L2 protein may be an interesting and promising target in the development of therapeutic HPV vaccines, but the possible strengths and the unclear longevity of L2 immune responses are factors to be considered before clinical use.

The association between vulvodynia and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a chronic, debilitating disease of unknown etiology, may involve sex hormone-dependent mechanisms regulating vulvo-vaginal health. We aimed to prospectively investigate the effects of 12 weeks of local estrogen therapy (LET) on urinary/bladder and sexual symptoms in premenopausal women with IC/BPS. Thirty-four women (mean age: 36.1 ± 8.4) diagnosed with IC/BPS were treated vulvo-vaginally three-times/week with estriol 0.5 mg cream and tested by validated questionnaires (ICSI/ICPI, pain urgency frequency [PUF], female sexual function index [FSFI]) and by cotton swab testing, vaginal health index (VHI) and maturation index (MI) before and after treatment. Vulvodynia was present in 94.1% of IC/BPS women. A significant positive effect of LET was evident on urinary and sexual function (p < 0.001, for both) following 12 weeks, as well as an improvement of the VHI (p < 0.001) and the MI (p < 0.04). The results of this open study indicate that 12 weeks of local estriol cream at vaginal and vestibular level may ameliorate urinary/bladder pain symptoms, as well as may improve domains of sexual function. The association between vulvar pain and bladder pain could, therefore, be related to a vaginal environment carrying signs of hypoestrogenism, but further studies are needed to clarify this issue.