This study looked at the rate of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and what the risks were to acquiring BV among young sexually-active Australian women attending primary health care. 1093 women aged 16–25 years participated in the study. Participants completed a questionnaire every 3 months and vaginal smears were self-collected at 6 months and 12 months.
At their first recruitment visit 129 women had BV (12%).
We found that the women with BV were more likely to have had a recent female partner and no tertiary education. Women who used an oestrogen-containing contraceptive had a lower risk of acquiring BV. There were 82 women (9%) who developed BV during the study and this was connected to having a new male partner.
The results of the study support the theory that sexual activity is strongly associated with the development of BV.
Publications
Prevalent and incident bacterial vaginosis are associated with sexual and contraceptive behaviours in young Australian women
Bradshaw CS, Walker J, Fairley CK, Chen MY, Tabrizi SN, Donovan B, Kaldor JM, McNamee K, Urban E, Walker S, Currie M, Birden H, Bowden F, Garland S, Pirotta M, Gurrin L, Hocking JS
(2013), PLOS ONE,