Candida and dysbacteriosis: a cytologic, population-based study of 100,605 asymptomatic women concerning cervical carcinogenesis.

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the presence of vaginal Candida or dysbacteriosis predisposes women to an increased susceptibility for (pre)neoplasia over time.

Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study was performed and was conducted in a population of 100,605 women, each of whom had 2 smears taken over a period of 12 years as part of the Dutch Cervical Screening Program. From these women, a cohort of 1439 women with Candida and a cohort of 5302 women with dysbacteriosis were selected as 2 separate study groups.