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Cited by 82Reproductive tract infections researchGut microbiota and healthCervical Cancer and HPV Research

The influence of behaviors and relationships on the vaginal microbiota of women and their female partners: the WOW Health Study.

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Bradshaw, C. S., Walker, S. M., Vodstrcil, L. A., Bilardi, J. E., Law, M., Hocking, J. S., Fethers, K. A., Fehler, G. +5 more·2014·Journal of Infectious Diseases
DOI 10.1093/infdis/jit664
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: A community-based study of women who have sex with women (WSW) was performed to determine the burden of bacterial vaginosis (BV), and behavioral factors influencing the vaginal microbiota of women and their female sexual partners (FSPs), as measured by Nugent score (NS). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 18-55-year-old WSW recruited nationally, participants completed questionnaires and self-collected vaginal swab samples weekly on 3 occasions. BV was defined as an NS of 7-10. Factors associated with BV, stability of NS category, and concordance of these categories in co-enrolled couples were examined with multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 458 participants were recruited; 192 were co-enrolled with their FSP (96 couples). BV was detected in 125 women (27%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23%-32%). BV was associated with ≥4 lifetime FSPs (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2-3.1), an FSP with BV symptoms (AOR, 2.9; 1.0-8.2) and smoking, with ≥30 cigarettes per week showing greatest odds (AOR, 2.7; 1.5-5.0). Of 428 women returning ≥2 swab samples, 375 (88%) had a stable NS category across all samples, predominantly reflecting normal flora. Co-enrolled WSW were less likely to have BV (31% vs 23%; P = .07), and the majority (70%) were concordant for NS category (κ = 0.47; P ≤ .01), with most concordant for normal flora. Concordant NS category was associated with a relationship of >6 months (AOR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.4-16.4) and frequent sexual contact (more than once per month; AOR, 2.7; 1.0-7.1). CONCLUSIONS: BV is associated with key behaviors and smoking practices in WSW, but longer-duration, sexually active WSW partnerships support a stable favorable vaginal microbiota.

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  • Evidence continues to support the association of such sexual behaviors as having a new partner, having a partner with BV, having receptive oral sex, and having digital-vaginal and digital-anal sex with incident BV.

    “Evidence continues to support the association of such sexual behaviors as having a new partner, having a partner with BV, having receptive oral sex, and having digital-vaginal and digital-anal sex with incident BV (313,314).”

    From Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021 (2021) · cites this paper as [314]

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Authors
Bradshaw, C. S., Walker, S. M., Vodstrcil, L. A., Bilardi, J. E., Law, M., Hocking, J. S., Fethers, K. A., Fehler, G., Petersen, S., Tabrizi, S. N., Chen, M. Y., Garland, S. M., & Fairley, C. K.
Affiliations
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • The Alfred Hospital (AU)
  • Royal Women's Hospital (AU)
Corresponding author
Bradshaw, C. S.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2013-11-27
Volume
209
Issue
10
Pages
1562-1572
ISSN
  • 0022-1899 (ISSN-L)
  • 1537-6613
DOI
10.1093/infdis/jit664
OpenAlex
W2149302632
Cited by
82
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 5
FWCI
6.69
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-nd
Locations
  • The Journal of Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UNSWorks (UNSW Sydney) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion)
  • UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Reproductive tract infections research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Cervical Cancer and HPV Research
Keywords
bacterial vaginosis, vaginal microbiota, women who have sex with women, female sexual partners, Nugent score, smoking, sexual behavior, relationship duration
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Data Collection, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Risk Factors, Sexual Behavior, Smoking, Vagina, Multivariate Analysis, Logistic Models, Odds Ratio, Vaginosis, Bacterial, Homosexuality, Female, Young Adult

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