INFLUENCE OF VAGINAL MICROBIOTA ON HPV INFECTION PERSISTENCE AND CERVICAL LESION PROGRESSION: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, particularly with high-risk types, is associated with the development of cervical intraepithelial lesions and cervical cancer. Although viral persistence is one of the main factors involved in this process, recent evidence suggests that vaginal microbiota composition may be related to the course of HPV infection. This article aimed to analyze the influence of vaginal microbiota on HPV infection persistence and cervical lesion progression. A literature review was conducted using the PubMed and Virtual Health Library (VHL) databases, with the descriptors “Microbiota,” “Papillomavirus Infections,” and “Uterine Cervical Dysplasia,” combined with the Boolean operator AND. Twenty-five studies published within the last five years, available free of charge and in full text, were selected. The findings demonstrated an association between cervicovaginal dysbiosis, changes in the composition of Lactobacillus species, and HPV persistence, as well as relationships with different grades of cervical lesions. Changes in anaerobic bacteria and metabolic profiles related to the local immune response were also observed. In conclusion, vaginal microbiota may contribute to the microenvironment associated with HPV persistence and cervical lesion progression, although a causal relationship has not yet been fully established.