Candida transmission and sexual behaviors as risks for a repeat episode of Candida vulvovaginitis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess associations between female and male factors and the risk of recurring Candida vulvovaginitis.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study of 148 women with Candida vulvovaginitis and 78 of their male sexual partners was conducted at two primary care practices in the Ann Arbor, Michigan, area.


RESULTS
Thirty-three of 148 women developed at least one further episode of Candida albicans vulvovaginitis within 1 year of follow-up. Cultures of Candida species from various sites of the woman (tongue, feces, vulva, and vagina) and from her partner (tongue, feces, urine, and semen) did not predict recurrences. Female factors associated with recurrence included recent masturbating with saliva (hazard ratio 2.66 [95% CI 1.17-6.06]) or cunnilingus (hazard ratio 2.94 [95% CI 1.12-7.68]) and ingestion of two or more servings of bread per day (p </= 0.05). Male factors associated with recurrences in the woman included history of the male masturbating with saliva in the previous month (hazard ratio 3.68 [95% CI 1.24-10.87]) and lower age at first intercourse (hazard ratio 0.83 [95% CI 0.71-0.96]).


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual behaviors, rather than the presence of Candida species at various body locations of the male partner, are associated with recurrences of C. albicans vulvovaginitis.
Reed
Barbara D
BD
Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0708, USA. barbr@umich.edu
Zazove
Philip
P
Pierson
Carl L
CL
Gorenflo
Daniel W
DW
Horrocks
Julie
J
D000328:Adult; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008418:Masturbation; D008824:Michigan; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010413:Penis / Q000382:microbiology; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013997:Time Factors; D014059:Tongue / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology; D014848:Vulvovaginitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control