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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Models of Murine Vaginal Colonization by Anaerobically Grown Bacteria
Published on: May 25, 2022
Paternal race and bacterial vaginosis during the first trimester of pregnancy
Hyagriv N Simhan1, Lisa M Bodnar, Marijane A Krohn
1Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. hsimhan@mail.magee.edu
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine the joint effects of maternal and paternal race on risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV) during the first trimester.
Study Design:
In this cohort of black women and white women with singleton gestation at <13 weeks (n = 325), BV was diagnosed by vaginal pH and Gram stain.
Results:
BV was less common among white women than black women. Paternal race modified the effect of maternal race on BV risk. BV risk was 2-fold greater among both white female-black male partners and black female-white male partners. BV risk was also 2-fold greater among black female-black male partners. Black race among both partners confers no additional risk than with 1 black partner.
Conclusion:
Paternal black race is an independent risk factor for BV during pregnancy and is as important a risk factor as maternal race. Studies of BV and adverse pregnancy outcomes should consider paternal race.
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