The Human Vaginal Bacterial Biota and Bacterial Vaginosis
Figure 1
Competing models for the pathogenesis of BV. At least 2 models exist to explain
the pathogenesis of BV. The
lactobacillus depletion model suggests that there is a decrease in hydrogen
peroxide producing lactobacilli as the primary event that allows for the
overgrowth of facultative anaerobes resulting in BV. The primary pathogen model suggests that the
entry of facultative anaerobes causes the displacement of lactobacilli thereby
resulting in BV.