Table 1.

Physiological characteristics of the vulvar and vaginal area.

	Vulva	Vagina
Tissue structure	Mons pubis, labia, clitoris, and perineum: keratinized, stratified squamous structure with sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles Vulvar vestibule mucosa: non-keratinized	Fibromuscular canal composed mainly of smooth muscle with a lining of aglandular, non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
pH	3.5–4.7	Premenarche: 7.0 Reproductive age: 3.8–4.4 Menopause: 6.5–7.0 (without hormone therapy); 4.5–5.0 (with hormone replacement therapy)
Microflora	Lipophilic and non-lipophilic diphtheroids; coagulase-negative staphylococci, micrococci, and lactobacilli; streptococci; Gram-negative rods; Gram-negative bacilli; Neisseria; Gardnerella vaginalis; and/or yeasts	Lactobacillus spp., Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera spp., Leptotrichia spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and/or Candida albicans