In a community setting, BV prevalence was higher in lesbians than in heterosexual women.
Although risk for some sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as syphilis and gonorrhea, is reduced in women who have sex with women (WSW), bacterial vaginosis (BV) in women visiting STI clinics is more common among lesbians than among heterosexual women. To determine whether this difference in prevalence holds true in a community setting, investigators recruited 171 WSW from community groups, events, and bars and compared their rate of BV with that of 189 heterosexual women recruited from family planning clinics (overall age range, 16–50).
The prevalence of BV (defined by evaluation of Gram-stained, self-obtained vaginal swabs) was 26% in WSW and 14% in heterosexual women. Among lesbian couples, 87% had concordant vaginal flora. Smoki…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)
RoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris
Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases
Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)
DisclosuresConsultant/Advisory BoardAicuris; Bayer; GSK; Innovative Molecules; Merck; MAPP Biopharmaceutical (Safety Monitoring Committee)
RoyaltiesUpToDate
Grant/Research SupportNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; GSK; Moderna; Assembly Biomedical; Aicuris
Editorial BoardsSexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; Journal of Infectious Diseases
Leadership PositionsID Division Chiefs Community of Practice (At-Large Member)