Longitudinal association between hormonal contraceptives and bacterial vaginosis in women of reproductive age.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether hormonal contraceptive use is associated with diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) over 1 year.


METHODS
A total of 3,077 women of reproductive age were recruited from gynecologic and family planning clinics for a 1-year prospective longitudinal study. Data collected over 5 visits included demographics, health and hygiene behaviors, and gynecological exams. Gram stains were used to quantify vaginal flora.


RESULTS
There was a decreased risk of overall BV prevalence among oral contraceptive users (odds ratio, OR 0.76; confidence interval, CI 0.63-0.90) and among those using hormonal injection/implant (OR 0.64; CI 0.53-0.76). An increased risk for BV prevalence (OR 1.38; CI 1.11-1.71) and incidence (OR 1.43; 1.02-2.07) was observed among those subjects who had tubal ligation. Greater remission of BV was found among those using hormonal injection or implant (OR 1.67; CI 1.23-2.27) whereas less remission occurred among those subjects who had tubal ligation (OR 0.56; CI 0.39-0.80).


CONCLUSIONS
Hormonal contraceptive use is associated with a decreased risk of BV.
Riggs
Margaret
M
National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA. bnx4@cdc.gov
Klebanoff
Mark
M
Nansel
Tonja
T
Zhang
Jun
J
Schwebke
Jane
J
Andrews
William
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000592:standards; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology*
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal