Candida is a commensal yeast belonging to the Ascomycetes. Various strains of Candida are normally present on the skin, in the gastrointestinal tract, and on mucous membranes, including the genital area. These fungal species live and grow at body temperature in balance with other microorganisms. However, due to specific morphological and metabolic characteristics acting as virulence factors, they can grow too much and cause diseases in humans. In recent decades, the incidence of fungal infections in humans has increased, with Candida spp. (mainly C. albicans) being the most common. Genital mucosal infections often arise from commensal organisms colonizing the gastrointestinal tract: there are indeed correspondences between the strains causing vulvovaginitis in the genital tract and those present in the lower part of the intestine. All current studies agree that inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract promotes Candida colonization, and in turn, Candida colonization inhibits the growth of protective microorganisms such as lactobacilli, leading to inflammatory lesions that favor dysbiosis, thus creating a vicious cycle that exacerbates the disease and slows down remission.
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