Might Treating Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections?

Treatment and prophylaxis resulted in significantly fewer new cases of chlamydia.

Some evidence suggests that bacterial vaginosis (BV), which is characterized by changes in vaginal flora (increased Gardnerella vaginalis and decreased lactobacilli), is a risk factor for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, treating women with asymptomatic BV is generally not recommended. Investigators sought to determine whether treatment for 6 months might reduce the risk for STIs in a high-risk population of African American women who presented to a county-run STI clinic in Birmingham, Alabama.

A total of 107 women (mean age, 25.1 years) with asymptomatic BV were randomly assigned to observation or treatment with intravaginal metronidazole gel at bedtime for 5 days, followed by twice-weekly treatment for 6 months to prevent r…

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Might Treating Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections?

Topics

Reviewing Author