Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: The influence of probiotics on genital high -risk human papilloma virus clearance, 
associated lesions and quality of cervical smear: A randomized placebo -controlled trial  
 
Version: 1 Date: 23 May 2019  
 
Reviewer: Jo-Ann S. Passmore  
 
Reviewer's report:  
Thank you to the authors for addressing the suggestions in detail. Please remove the first 
sentence of the results (page 8 lines 39 to page 9 lines4) and move these rather to the Methods 
(page 6 line 33).  
Please include statement about adjustment to cohort size because of slow recruitment to the 
limitations  paragraph (page 15).  
Are the methods appropriate and well describ ed? 
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately  supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended,  please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the public ation of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently  applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other fi nancial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give detai ls below.  
 
NA 
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included 
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publication, my named report 
inclu ding any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors' 
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to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal