Association between periodontal disease, bacterial vaginosis, and sexual risk behaviours.
BACKGROUND
Both periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study evaluated the association between periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis.


METHODS
Data from 3569 women enrolled in the Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Flora were used. Periodontal disease, defined as greater than three sites with ≥4 mm attachment loss, was assessed by specially calibrated hygienists at baseline. Positive bacterial vaginosis status was based on a Nugent Gram stain score ≥7. Pairs of independent variables were compared with Pearson's χ(2) and risk ratios were calculated through log-binomial regression.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight per cent of women with bacterial vaginosis had periodontal disease compared with 22% without , corresponding to 1.29 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.47) times greater risk of periodontal disease among women with bacterial vaginosis. In adjusted analysis the risk ratio dropped to 1.23 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.40). Receptive oral sex with an uncircumcised partner was associated with 1.28 times (95% CI: 0.97, 1.69) the risk for periodontal disease compared with receptive oral sex with a circumcised partner, though the association is not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
In this population, there is a small but significant association between periodontal disease and bacterial vaginosis and a possible trend between receptive oral sex with an uncircumcised partner and periodontal disease.
Zabor
Emily Craig
EC
Division of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. zabor008@umn.edu
Klebanoff
Mark
M
Yu
Kai
K
Zhang
Jun
J
Nansel
Tonja
T
Andrews
William
W
Schwebke
Jane
J
Jeffcoat
Marjorie
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002944:Circumcision, Male; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult