Bacterial Vaginosis During Pregnancy: A Danish Study
Author Information
Author(s): Ida Vogel, Poul Thorsen, Bernard Jeune, Bo Jacobsson, Niels Ebbesen, Magnus Arpi, Annie Bremmelgaard, Birger R. Møller
Primary Institution: University of Aarhus
Hypothesis
What factors are associated with the acquisition and elimination of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy?
Conclusion
Acquisition of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy is rare and is associated with smoking and certain vaginal conditions.
Supporting Evidence
- Bacterial vaginosis prevalence decreased from 17% to 14% during pregnancy.
- Heavy smokers had a 5.3 times higher risk of acquiring bacterial vaginosis.
- Women with a vaginal pH above 4.5 were at increased risk for bacterial vaginosis.
Takeaway
This study found that most pregnant women do not get bacterial vaginosis, but smoking can increase the risk.
Methodology
The study involved a population-based prospective cohort of pregnant women, examining them at two points during pregnancy for bacterial vaginosis using clinical criteria and microbiological cultures.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data on lifestyle factors may introduce misclassification bias.
Limitations
The sample size for studying acquisition and elimination of BV is very small, which may affect the validity of the results.
Participant Demographics
Pregnant women residing in the catchment area of Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
[1.1–25]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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