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Does bacterial vaginosis cause pelvic inflammatory disease?
Brandie DePaoli Taylor1, Toni Darville, Catherine L Haggerty
1Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. depaolib@edc.pitt.edu
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
|January 18, 2013
Summary
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is linked to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), a serious reproductive health issue. More research is needed to confirm the causal link and understand which BV-associated organisms contribute to PID.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) causes significant reproductive morbidity, including infertility and ectopic pregnancy.
- Bacterial vaginosis (BV), an alteration of vaginal flora, is suspected to play a role in PID development.
- The precise role of BV in PID etiology and pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an extensive review of existing studies examining the relationship between BV and PID.
- To synthesize current evidence on the association between BV and specific components of PID, such as cervicitis, endometritis, and salpingitis.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 19 studies investigating the BV-PID relationship.
- Analysis of findings regarding BV-associated organisms and their correlation with PID development.
Main Results:
- Several studies indicate a correlation between BV and cervicitis, endometritis, and salpingitis.
- Some BV-associated organisms appear linked to PID, while others do not show a clear association.
- Evidence for an independent association between specific BV-associated organisms and PID is limited.
Conclusions:
- A definitive causal association between BV and PID has not yet been established.
- Further prospective studies are necessary to clarify the role of BV in PID.
- Future research should focus on individual BV-associated organisms to better understand their contribution to PID pathogenesis.
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