Still No Consensus on BV Screening and Treatment During Pregnancy

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with preterm birth; accordingly, detecting and treating the condition in pregnant women could reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, medications used to treat BV can themselves contribute to adverse outcomes, at least in some populations and at some doses. In 2001, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routinely screening average-risk asymptomatic pregnant women for BV and also found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routinely screening high-risk asymptomatic pregnant women.

Now, based on a series of meta-analyses of data accrued since 2001, the USPSTF again has concluded that there is no benefit to treating women with low- or average-risk pregnancies …