Bacterial Vaginosis Testing
Q: Should pregnant women be tested for bacterial vaginosis?
Dr. Donnica: It seems like pregnant women are tested for just about everything,
but bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not yet on the "must do" list. BV is a common
condition among women of childbearing age resulting in a vaginal discharge caused
by an imbalance in vaginal bacteria. Despite research showing that pregnant
women with BV have a higher risk of pre-term delivery, evidence does not merit
regular screening to reduce the incidence of pre-term delivery. For women at
high risk due to a previous pre-term delivery, the US Prevention Services Task
Force (USPSTF) found conflicting results regarding the benefit of screening
and treatment, and concluded that these options be left to the judgment of clinicians.
Created: 4/19/2001 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
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