title: Characterization of vaginal flora and bacterial vaginosis in women who have sex with women.
abstract: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) may be common among women who report having sex with women (WSW) and frequently occurs in both members of monogamous couples. The results of Gram staining of a vaginal smear were consistent with BV in 81 (25%) and intermediate in 37 (11%) of 326 WSW included in this study. Lactobacilli were detected in 64% of subjects, and 42% of subjects had H(2)O(2)-producing strains. BV was associated with a higher lifetime number of female sex partners, failure to always clean an insertive sex toy before use, and oral-anal sex with female partners. Neither recent douching nor sexual practices with male partners were associated with BV. Vaginal smears from each partner were concordant in 55 (95%) of 58 monogamous couples; BV was present in both partners in 16 couples (28%) (P<.001, compared with expected distribution). BV was common among subjects who did not douche, who did not have concurrent sex with male partners, or who did not have a new sex partner, which suggests that other risk factors for BV exist. These data support the hypothesis that sexual exchange of vaginal secretions is a possible mechanism for acquisition of BV.
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. jmm2@u.washington.edu
authors: Jeanne M
authors: JM
authors: Marrazzo
authors: Laura A
authors: LA
authors: Koutsky
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Eschenbach
authors: Kathy
authors: K
authors: Agnew
authors: Kathleen
authors: K
authors: Stine
authors: Sharon L
authors: SL
authors: Hillier
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D006801:Humans; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018720:Prevotella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission