Nonspecific vaginitis among women attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic

We studied 33 women who presented to the sexually transmitted disease clinic at Boston City Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts); most of the women attended the clinic for management of uncomplicated anogenital gonococcal infection. A clinical diagnosis of nonspecific vaginitis was based on the finding of three or more of the following: homogeneous vaginal discharge, vaginal pH of greater than 4.5, abnormal odor on the addition of 10% KOH to vaginal secretions, and the presence of "clue cells." This diagnosis was assigned to 21 (64%) of the 33 women; it was confirmed by use of gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of vaginal secretions (succinate:lactate ratio of greater than 0.4 or detection of priopionate or butyrate) in 20 of the 21 women. About two-thirds of the women with nonspecific vaginitis were symptom-free. We conclude that nonspecific vaginitis is exceedingly common among women attending an inner-city clinic for sexually transmitted diseases and that most of the infected women are asymptomatic.