Hipercromasia The vagina is colonized by gram-positive rod-shaped
bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus. They are beneficial The vagina is colonized by gram-positive rod-shaped because they produce lactic acid, which reduces the ambient bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus. They are beneficial pH and possibly protects from infection by Candida because they produce lactic acid, which reduces the ambient and other pathogens. Lactobacilli metabolize the glycogen pH and possibly protects from infection by Candida contained within exfoliated squamous cells. The resulting and other pathogens. Lactobacilli metabolize the glycogen cellular pattern, commonly seen during the second (luteal) contained within exfoliated squamous cells. The resulting phase of the menstrual cycle, is known as cytolysis—bare cellular pattern, commonly seen during the second (luteal) intermediate cell nuclei, fragments of squamous cytoplasm, phase of the menstrual cycle, is known as cytolysis—bare and abundant bacterial rods (Fig. 1.18). Cytolysis intermediate cell nuclei, fragments of squamous cytoplasm, and abundant bacterial rods (Fig. 1.18). Cytolysis