Vaginal and Extra-Vaginal Bacterial Colonization and Risk for Incident Bacterial Vaginosis in a Population of Women Who Have Sex With Men

Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common cause of vaginal discharge and associated with vaginal acquisition of BV-associated bacteria (BVAB). Methods We used quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays to determine whether presence or concentrations of BVAB in the mouth, anus, vagina, or labia before BV predict risk of incident BV in 72 women who have sex with men. Results Baseline vaginal and extra-vaginal colonization with Gardnerella spp, Megasphaera spp, Sneathia spp, BVAB-2, Dialister sp type 2, and other BVAB was more common among subjects with incident BV. Conclusions Prior colonization with BVAB is a consistent risk for BV. The presence and concentrations of bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria detected in the mouth, anus, labia, and vagina of women without bacterial vaginosis predict those women who subsequently develop BV.

Automated summary

This study found that the presence or concentrations of BV-associated bacteria in the mouth, anus, labia, and vagina can predict whether women will develop BV in the future.