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Anatomic and Hormonal Changes in the Female Reproductive Tract Immune Environment during the Life Cycle: Implications for HIV / STI Prevention Research
Author(s) -
Venkatesh Kartik K.,
CuUvin Susan
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12247
Subject(s) - physiology , menstrual cycle , hormone , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , immune system , menopause , female circumcision , reproductive tract , biology , genital tract , medicine , immunology , gynecology , endocrinology
The female genital tract undergoes anatomic changes from birth through menopause. Concurrently, the relative levels and roles of estradiol and progesterone dramatically change during the female life cycle. This review provides a conceptual overview of clinically relevant anatomic and hormonal changes in the female genital tract, and how these changes may affect HIV ‐1 pathogenesis, transmission, and mucosal immunology and protection against HIV and STI s across the female life cycle.