Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and relationship with
personal hygiene in Turkish women using an IUD
I. Gönenç1, E.Z. Tuzcular Vural1, N. Aka1, G. Köse1,
JK. Tacclu2
1Haydarpaca Numune Education and Research Hospital, Family
Planning Unit, Istanbul, Turkey, 2Haydarpaa Numune Education and Research
Hospital ,Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey
Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of
bacterial vaginosis (BV) in a group of women using an IUD and to evaluate the
association of BV with socio-demographic features and personal hygienic
attitudes.
Design and methods A prevalence study was conducted among
women attending our Family Planning Outpatient Clinic, between a 6-month period.
Inclusion criteria for the study were to be an IUD user and to come for an IUD
follow-up, willingness to answer the questionnaire and not to have used
medications which may alter the vaginal flora. A face to face structured
questionnaire with 19 open ended questions was applied to 200 women who met the
criteria and BV was diagnosed using the Amsel’s and Nugent’s criterion.
Statistical analysis was made using mean values, standard deviations, Pearson’s
test, Fisher’s exact x2 test and student t test in the SPSS 10.0 for Windows
programme.
Results The prevalence of BV was 32 %. BV was more
prevalent among women with vaginal discharge and foul odor, and a statistically
significant relationship was found between polygamy , frequent vaginal douching,
sexual intercourse more frequently than twice a week and anogenital wiping from
back to front (p<0.05). BV was more common with homemade, reusable sanitary towels used instead of commercial pads and intense use of soap in vulvar cleansing, without statistical significance (p>0.05).
Conclusion We found a high prevalence of BV in women
using an IUD (32 %). Special attention should be given to screen women with risk
factors and women should also be counseled for personal hygiene.