Bacterial vaginosis natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sara Mehrsefat, M.D. [2]
Overview
Natural History
Most women found to have bacterial vaginosis (BV) reported no symptoms. Women who have not had vaginal, oral, or anal sex can still be affected by Bacterial vaginosis. In symptomatic patients, bacterial vaginosis may present with thin white/gray malodor vaginal discharge. If left untreated, it may lead to more serious sequelae, such as salpingitis, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and bacteremia. The bacteria that cause BV can sometimes infect the uterus (womb) and fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus). If left untreated, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) may lead to infertility or damage the fallopian tubes enough to increase the future risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Bacterial Vaginosis during Pregnancy
Pregnant women with BV more often have babies who are born premature or with low birth weight (low birth weight is less than 5.5 pounds). Around one third of pregnant women found to have a bacterial vaginosis. if left untreated, in pregnant women bacterial vaginosis may result in complication of pregnancy, including premature rupture of membranes, premature labor, chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, and septic abortion.
Complications
In most cases, BV causes no complications. But there are some serious risks from bacterial vaginosis including:[1][2]
- Increased risk for infection following surgical procedures such as:
- Increased risk for some complications of pregnancy such as:[3][4][5]
- Chorioamnionitis
- first trimester miscarriage
- Preterm birth
- Occurrence of postpartum infections
- Increase a woman's susceptibility to other STDs, such as:
- Increases the risk for HIV transmission to male sex partners
Prognosis
References
- ↑ Laxmi U, Agrawal S, Raghunandan C, et al. Association of bacterial vaginosis with adverse fetomaternal outcome in women with spontaneous preterm labor: a prospective cohort study. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2012;25:64–7.
- ↑ Koumans EH, Kendrick JS, CDC Bacterial Vaginosis Working Group (2001). "Preventing adverse sequelae of bacterial vaginosis: a public health program and research agenda". Sex Transm Dis. 28 (5): 292–7. PMID 11354269.
- ↑ Chaim, W., M. Mazor, and J. R. Leiberman. "The relationship between bacterial vaginosis and preterm birth. A review." Archives of gynecology and obstetrics 259.2 (1997): 51-58.
- ↑ Faro S, Martens M, Maccato M, Hammill H, Pearlman M (1993). "Vaginal flora and pelvic inflammatory disease". Am J Obstet Gynecol. 169 (2 Pt 2): 470–4. PMID 8357048.
- ↑ Ralph SG, Rutherford AJ, Wilson JD (1999). "Influence of bacterial vaginosis on conception and miscarriage in the first trimester: cohort study". BMJ. 319 (7204): 220–3. PMC 28171. PMID 10417083.