Partner hygiene-related behaviors and vaginitis subtypes: an exploratory observational study

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between partner hygiene behaviors, quantified using an exploratory partner hygiene score, and vaginitis subtypes, and to evaluate the relationship between baseline partner hygiene and short-term recurrence.

This prospective observational study included women aged 18-45 years presenting with vaginitis symptoms to a gynecology outpatient clinic. Vaginitis subtypes were diagnosed using standardized clinical and laboratory criteria. Partner hygiene behaviors were assessed using a seven-item partner hygiene score (range: 0-14). Participants were followed for 3 months to assess clinically confirmed symptomatic recurrence. Associations between partner hygiene score and vaginitis subtypes were analyzed cross-sectionally, while recurrence analyses were performed prospectively.

A total of 108 women were included. Diagnoses included bacterial vaginosis (45.4%), vulvovaginal candidiasis (29.6%), Trichomonas vaginalis infection (10.2%), mixed vaginitis (11.1%), and non-specific vaginitis (3.7%). Median partner hygiene score scores were significantly lower in women with bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis compared with vulvovaginal candidiasis (p<0.001). Each one-point decrease in partner hygiene score was associated with higher odds of bacterial vaginosis. During follow-up, recurrence occurred in 33% of cases, but baseline partner hygiene score was not associated with recurrence.

Lower partner hygiene scores were associated with dysbiosis-predominant vaginitis phenotypes, particularly bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis. Although no association was observed with short-term recurrence, these findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in larger prospective studies.