Who is affected by bacterial vaginosis

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Who is affected by bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is the most common vaginal infection among women of childbearing age in the United States. Although bacterial vaginosis is not a sexually transmitted disease, it rarely develops in women who have never been sexually active.¹

• About half of women who have bacterial vaginosis do not have symptoms.²
• As many as 23% of pregnant women are diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis.³ Bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy more than doubles the risk of preterm delivery.⁴
• Black women have higher rates of bacterial vaginosis than those of any other racial or ethnic group.⁵
• Women with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have a higher rate of bacterial vaginosis than women without STDs.⁵
• Women with only female sex partners have a higher rate of bacterial vaginosis than women with only male sex partners.⁵
• Bacterial vaginosis recurs in about 1 out of 3 treated women.²
• Sexually abused children are known to have developed bacterial vaginosis.⁶

References

Citations

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2002). Diseases characterized by vaginal discharge section of Sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines. MMWR, 51(RR-6): 42–48.

2. Joesoef MR, Schmid G (2005). Bacterial vaginosis, search date March 2004. Online version of BMJ Clinical Evidence. Also available online: http://www.clinicalevidence.com.

3. Guise JM, et al. (2001). Screening for bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 20(3, Suppl): 62–72.

4. Leitich H, et al. (2003). Bacterial vaginosis as a risk factor for preterm delivery: A meta-analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 189(1): 139–147.

5. Schmid GP (1999). The epidemiology of bacterial vaginosis. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 67: S17–S20.

6. McGregor JA, French JI (2000). Bacterial vaginosis in pregnancy. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey, 55(5): S1–S19.

Credits

Last updated:	March 17, 2008
Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Jeanne Marrazzo, MD, MPH - Infectious Disease
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC