The vaginal microbiome and gynaecological cancer: exercise caution when considering causation.

The article considers the role of vaginal microbiome in the aetiology of gynecological cancers. Topics discussed are factors that influence the acquisition of genital human papillomavirus (HPV) that are important in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer, efficacy of hysterectomy or salpingectomy with ovarian conservation and tubal ligation in reducing the risk of ovarian cancer, and role of vaginal microbiome in endometrial carcinogenesis.