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    Women view key sexual behaviours as the trigger for the onset and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis

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    Author
    Bilardi, JE; Walker, SM; Temple-Smith, MJ; McNair, RP; Mooney-Somers, J; Vodstrcil, LA; Bellhouse, CE; Fairley, CK; Bradshaw, CS
    Date
    2017-03-09
    Source Title
    PLoS One
    Publisher
    PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Bilardi, Jade; Temple-Smith, Meredith; McNair, Ruth; Bradshaw, Catriona; Bellhouse, Clare; Fairley, Christopher
    Affiliation
    University General
    General Practice
    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
    Metadata
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    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Bilardi, J. E., Walker, S. M., Temple-Smith, M. J., McNair, R. P., Mooney-Somers, J., Vodstrcil, L. A., Bellhouse, C. E., Fairley, C. K. & Bradshaw, C. S. (2017). Women view key sexual behaviours as the trigger for the onset and recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. PLOS ONE, 12 (3), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0173637.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/258304
    DOI
    10.1371/journal.pone.0173637
    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects a third of women of reproductive age in the US and there is increasing evidence to suggest it may be sexually transmitted. This study aimed to extend and validate the findings of our earlier smaller qualitative study by exploring in detail women's views and experiences of the triggering factors associated with BV onset and recurrence. METHODS: Women aged 20-49, who had experienced one or more symptomatic episode of BV within 6 months, were opportunistically recruited to complete a 38-item questionnaire on their experience of BV. RESULTS: 103 women completed the questionnaire. Women were significantly more likely to report sexual than lifestyle factors triggered BV onset and recurrence (p<0.001). The top 3 factors women attributed to both BV onset and recurrence were identical-and all sexual. They included, in order: 1) unprotected sex; 2) sex with a new male partner; and 3) sex in general. The main lifestyle factors nominated included stress, diet, menstruation and the use of feminine hygiene products. While many women felt their BV had been transmitted through sexual contact (54%) and developed as a result of sexual activity (59%), few considered BV a sexually transmitted infection (STI) (10%). Despite this 57% felt partners should also be treated for BV. CONCLUSION: These data concur with our earlier qualitative findings that women believe BV is triggered by sexual activity. While many women felt BV was sexually transmitted and supported partner treatment, they did not consider BV an STI. This contradiction is likely due to information conveyed to women based on current guidelines. In the absence of highly effective BV treatments, this study highlights the need for guidelines to indicate there is scientific uncertainty around the pathogenesis of BV and to contain clear health messages regarding the evidence for practices shown to be associated with a reduced risk of BV (i.e. consistent condom use.

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