Bacterial vaginosis

Abstract

Summary Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common vaginal disorders affecting women of reproductive age, being associated with serious health complications. This chapter focuses on the evidence related to Gardnerella vaginalis mediated BV. The first evidence for sexual transmission comes from a study conducted among healthy women who developed BV after being inoculated with vaginal secretions from women presenting this condition. In this regard, several studies have described many sexual risk factors that are related to BV. BV is generally diagnosed by the interpretation of clinical signs and symptoms of patients, based on Amsel criteria, or microscopic examination of Gram-stained vaginal specimens, based on Nugent score analysis. The current BV treatment usually prescribed by physicians is directed toward relief of symptoms through decrease of BV-associated bacteria and restoration of normal vaginal microflora.