Lactobacilli, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Vaginal Health

Bacterial vaginosis, the most prevalent vaginal infection among reproductive-age women, is associated with increased risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV infection. The condition stems from a disruption in the vaginal flora: Hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli, normally abundant, are either depleted or absent, allowing other bacteria to flourish. To determine risk factors for the absence of H₂O₂-producing lactobacilli, investigators pooled data from four studies performed at a Pittsburgh hospital. They identified 947 women with bacterial vaginosis -- 191 with H₂O₂-producing lactobacilli and 756 lacking them.

In multivariate analyses, douching twice or more in the previous month and having three or more …