The Influence of Behaviors and Relationships on the Vaginal Microbiota of Women and Their Female Partners: The WOW Health Study

Catriona S Bradshaw; Sandra M Walker; Lenka A Vodstrcil; Jade E Bilardi; Matthew Law; Jane S Hocking; Katherine A Fethers; Glenda Fehler; Susan Petersen; Sepehr N Tabrizi; Marcus Y Chen; Suzanne M Garland; Christopher K Fairley

Journal article

The Influence of Behaviors and Relationships on the Vaginal Microbiota of Women and Their Female Partners: The WOW Health Study

Catriona S Bradshaw, Sandra M Walker, Lenka A Vodstrcil, Jade E Bilardi, Matthew Law, Jane S Hocking, Katherine A Fethers, Glenda Fehler, Susan Petersen, Sepehr N Tabrizi, Marcus Y Chen, Suzanne M Garland, Christopher K Fairley

JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES | OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC | Published : 2014

DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jit664

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A community-based study of women who have sex with women (WSW) was performed to determine the burden of bacterial vaginosis (BV), and behavioral factors influencing the vaginal microbiota of women and their female sexual partners (FSPs), as measured by Nugent score (NS). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 18-55-year-old WSW recruited nationally, participants completed questionnaires and self-collected vaginal swab samples weekly on 3 occasions. BV was defined as an NS of 7-10. Factors associated with BV, stability of NS category, and concordance of these categories in co-enrolled couples were examined with multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 458 pa..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Jade Bilardi Author General Practice

Catriona Bradshaw Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Jane Hocking Author Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Suzanne Wark Author Obstetrics and Gynaecology Royal Women's Hospital/Mercy

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Grants

Awarded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

[ "This work was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (program grant APP57431, project grant APP1020457 to L. A. V., and Early Careers Development fellowship grants ERC1013135 to J. E. B. and APP566576 to J. S. H.).", "This work was also supported by a 2007 Lesbian Health Research Grant from the Australian Lesbian Medical Association and the AIDS Council of New SouthWales." ]