Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Protocols for Vaginal Inoculation and Sample Collection in the Experimental Mouse Model of Candida vaginitis
Published on: December 8, 2011
Clinical aspects and luteal phase assessment in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis
Jirí Spacek1, Vladimír Buchta, Petr Jílek
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Sokolská 581, Hradec Králové 500 05, Czech Republic. spacekj@fnhk.cz
Objective:
This study was undertaken to characterize the patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Study Design:
Basic data of personal history and history of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis, lower genital tract symptoms and signs in 50 patients were analyzed in this longitudinal follow-up study including the determination of midluteal serum progesterone and urinary pregnanediol levels during the luteal phase in 84 cycles (recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis) and 60 cycles (healthy controls).
Results:
All patients suffered primary idiopathic form of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Frequently, there was a striking discrepancy between severe symptoms and clinical finding, which was often negligible or normal. There was no redness and no or minimum discharge in 52% of culture documented attacks. In contrast to the healthy controls, the patients had significantly lower levels of progesterone (p<0.01) as well as those of urinary pregnanediol (p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Culture positive attacks in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis represented rather a form of vulvovaginal discomfort than attacks of vulvovaginal candidiasis with typical inflammatory changes. Significantly lower progesterone levels in the RVVC patients as compared to the healthy controls suggest a link between an altered hormonal status and one of possible causes of RVVC in these women.
Related Concept Videos
Candidiasis
Disorders of the Female Reproductive System
Trichomoniasis
Irritable Bowel Syndrome II: Clinical Features and Diagnostic Evaluation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is classified into subtypes based on the predominant bowel habits as determined by the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS). The subtypes are:
Cryptococcal Meningitis
Peptic Ulcer Disease III: Clinical Manifestations and Complications
