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Bacterial vaginosis is not associated with circumcision status of the current male partner
J M Zenilman1, A Fresia, B Berger
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Objective:
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is common in sexually active women, and in a large proportion the underlying aetiology is unknown. We evaluated partner circumcision status as a potential risk and hypothesised that women with uncircumcised partners were at increased risk for BV.
Methods:
Retrospective audit of a partner study (272 heterosexual couples) conducted in Baltimore between 1990 and 1992. BV defined by clinical criteria and circumcision status of males was determined by physical examination.
Results:
BV was diagnosed in 83 (30%) female partners; 75 (27%) males were uncircumcised. In males and females respectively, gonorrhoea was diagnosed in 20% and 16%, and chlamydia in 7% and 11%. In women with circumcised partners, 58/197 (29%) had BV compared with 25/75 (33%) with uncircumcised partners (p = 0.53).
Conclusion:
Women with uncircumcised current partners are not at increased risk for BV.