Vaginal microbiocoenosis and cytology of prepubertal and adolescent girls: their role in health and disease.

Background: Clinicians and investigators often do not appreciate the importance of vaginal microbiocoenosis and vaginal cytology in the health of prepubertal and adolescent girls.

Data Sources: Based on recent publications in human medicine and our own experience with vaginal cytology and microbiology in children and adolescent girls, we review the principles of vaginal microbiocoenosis and cytology and their roles in disease prevention in prepubertal and adolescent girls.

Results: The main role of vaginal microbiocoenosis and cytology in diagnosing as well as developing vulvovaginitis is demonstrated.

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding in adolescents: concepts of pathophysiology and management.

DUB is extremely common in young adolescents, and can be regarded asa part of normal physiologic development. It is essential to have a firm grasp on normal physiologic development of the menstrual cycle to recognize the normal menstrual patterns of adolescents and to manage abnormal patterns that may develop. Specific management depends on the underlying cause, presence and extent of any existing anemia, and duration of the irregular menstrual pattern.