Relationship of bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasmas to the risk of spontaneous abortion.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate a possible link between first-trimester diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis and cessation of pregnancy at < or =20 weeks' gestation.


METHODS
Women (n = 228) who received routine prenatal care in Flanders, Belgium, during the first trimester (14 weeks' gestation) and had a living singleton fetus were examined for microbiologic flora of the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis was assessed either clinically (Amsel et al criteria), microscopically (clue cells), or by culture of bacterial vaginosis-associated bacteria. Data were analyzed univariately (relative risk) and multivariately.


RESULTS
The presence of bacterial vaginosis at the first prenatal visit was strongly associated with subsequent early pregnancy loss (relative risk, 5.4; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-11). After multivariate analysis bacterial vaginosis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum but not other microorganisms remained associated with an increased risk of miscarriage.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasmas may play causative roles in spontaneous abortion and early pregnancy loss.
Donders
G G
GG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gasthuisberg University Hospital, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Van Bulck
B
B
Caudron
J
J
Londers
L
L
Vereecken
A
A
Spitz
B
B
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000150:complications; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*