Bacterial vaginosis and risk of early pregnancy loss

The aim this study was to assess the vaginal flora of pregnant women early in pregnancy [<13 wk] and to determine the possible link between bacterial vaginosis [BV] and subsequent spontaneous early pregnancy loss. 201 consecutive healthy pregnant women of less than 13 weeks' gestation were recrutied for this study through the year 2003. They underwent standardized vaginal speculum examination for microbiological flora of the vagina. Bacterial vaginosis was assessed using Amsel's criteria [1993] in addition to cullture study for BV associated organisms. Incidence of BV among pregnant females was 21.4%. BV was associated with late pregnancy loss [Relative Risk=1.8]. Those patients with intermediate flora were strongly associated with subsequent pretem labor. Among BV associated microorganisms, Gardnerella vaginalis was the most common organism. In conclusion, desspite no association was found between BV and early pregnancy loss, there was a striking relation with late abortion and pretern labor which makes proposing diagnosis and treatment of BV during pregnancy worthily