title: Analysis of the Risk Factors for Aerobic Vaginitis: A Case-Control Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a newly defined clinical entity which may interfere with women's reproductive health and have negative effects on pregnancy. This study was to identify the risk factors for AV.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in this case-control study included healthy women and women with AV. All participants completed a standardized questionnaire covering sociodemographic factors, sexual behaviors, personal hygiene habits and health behaviors. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used for statistical evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 290 women of reproductive age were enrolled. In the multivariate analysis, unmarried status (odds ratio [OR] 2.606, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.257-5.402), use of an intrauterine device (OR 4.989, 95% CI 1.922-12.952), long-term use of antibiotics (OR 11.176, 95% CI 1.363-91.666) and frequent vaginal douching (OR 4.689, 95% CI 1.363-16.135) were independent risk factors for AV. On the contrary, consistent condom use (OR 0.546, 95% CI 0.301-0.991) and college-level education or above (OR 0.255, 95% CI 0.131-0.497) were independent protective factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measures that may be considered to prevent AV include enhancing education to improve women's knowledge related to reproductive health, especially unmarried women, encouraging them to consistently use condoms as a contraceptive method, to avoid long-term use of antibiotics and to stop frequent vaginal douching. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Nv
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Cha
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yingmei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fengxia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xue