MICROBIOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS:A LONGITUDINAL STUDY

Abstract

The aetiology and pathogenesis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) are unclear which has impacted greatly on efforts to improve the efficacy of current treatment approaches. We examined the microbial composition of the vaginal microbiota and factors associated with the development of BV, in women-who-have-sex-with-women (WSW) who were participating in a two year cohort study, in order to gain insights into the microbial changes that occur around the development of BV. 298 women self-collected high vaginal swabs and completed questionnaires detailing behavioural practices and symptoms three monthly for 24 months or until incident BV, whichever occurred first. BV was diagnosed by the Nugent method and..