title: Vaginal flora alterations and clinical symptoms in low-risk pregnant women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To evaluate associations between alterations in vaginal flora and clinical symptoms in low-risk pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vaginal specimens from 245 pregnant women were analyzed by microscopy for vaginal flora. Signs and symptoms of vaginal infection were determined by patient interviews and gynecologic examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal vaginal flora was identified in 45.7% of the subjects. The final clinical diagnoses were bacterial vaginosis (21.6%), vaginal candidosis (10.2%), intermediate vaginal flora (5.2%), aerobic vaginitis (2.9%), mixed flora (2.9%) and other abnormal findings (2.9%). The percentage of women with or without clinical signs or symptoms was not significantly different between these categories. The presence of vaginal odor or vaginal discharge characteristics was not diagnostic of any specific flora alteration; pruritus was highly associated with candidosis (p < 0.0001). Compared to women with normal flora, pruritus was more prevalent in women with candidosis (p < 0.0001), while vaginal odor was associated with bacterial vaginosis (p = 0.0026).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of atypical vaginal flora is common in our low-risk pregnant population and is not always associated with pathology. The occurrence of specific signs or symptoms does not always discriminate between women with different types of atypical vaginal flora or between those with abnormal and normal vaginal flora.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gondo
authors.forename: Márcia G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Jossimara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polettini
authors.forename: Andréa da R
authors.initials: Ada R
authors.lastname: Tristao
authors.forename: José C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Peracoli
authors.forename: Steven S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Witkin
authors.forename: Marilza V C
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rudge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009812:Odorants; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*; D019522:Vaginal Discharge / Q000382:microbiology; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D055815:Young Adult