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Sex Hormones and Immunity to Infection pp 257–279Cite as

Sex Steroids and Risk of Female Genital Tract Infection

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Abstract

Sex steroids are central to regulation of the dual roles of the female reproductive tract: support of reproduction and protection against deleterious pathogen invasion. The mechanisms by which sex steroids orchestrate the balance between reproduction and protection against pathogenic microorganisms, however, are complex and poorly understood. Epidemiologic studies have revealed associations between sex steroids and diagnosis, shedding, transmission of sexually transmitted diseases and their clinical sequelae, as well as disruptions to the normal vaginal flora. Experimental approaches, including animal models, have provided some insight into the mechanism of these associations, though often with contradictory results. Inherent limitations in traditional approaches to understanding the physiology of sex steroid regulation of immunity in the female genital tract will require significant interdisciplinary collaboration.

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  1. The Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA

    Patti Gravitt

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  1. Patti Gravitt
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  2. Khalil Ghanem
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Correspondence to Patti Gravitt .

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  1. School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg, N. Wolfe Street 615, Baltimore, 21205, U.S.A.

    Sabra L. Klein

  2. Institute for Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Taylor Street 27, Glasgow, G4 0NR, United Kingdom

    Craig Roberts

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Gravitt, P., Ghanem, K. (2010). Sex Steroids and Risk of Female Genital Tract Infection. In: Klein, S., Roberts, C. (eds) Sex Hormones and Immunity to Infection. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02155-8_10

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