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Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common but poorly understood condition characterized by a global disturbance of the vaginal microflora with an overgrowth of Gardnerella vaginalis and other anaerobic bacterial species. Observational studies have shown an association between BV and douching, but whether douching contributes to BV or is performed in response to symptoms remains unclear. To investigate this issue, researchers examined the association between BV prevalence and personal hygienic practices among women enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Flora.
The study involved 3620 nonpregnant women aged 15 to 44 who completed an initial visit and up to four quarterly evaluations during the subsequent year. BV was present at 40% of the 13…