Bacterial vaginosis in 20-28 weeks pregnancy and risk of preterm birth

In this prospective study we tried to determine whether there is an increased risk of preterm birth in pregnants with bacterial vaginosis. Pregnants complaining leucorrhoea were investigated at 20-28 weeks of gestations. Clinical examinations were done and gram stain and culture samples were taken from vaginal discharges. All cases were followed until birth. Delivery before 37 weeks accepted as preterm birth. in 178 pregnants there were 51 cases with bacterial vaginosis (28.65 %). in these cases 32 women had preterm birth (62.75 %). in the other 127 cases without bacterial vaginosis 29 pregnant women (22.83 %) had preterm delivery. in bacterial vaginosis group 11 cases (21.57 %) and in nonbacterial vaginosis group 24 cases (18.89 %) had urinary tract infections. in pregnants with bacterial vaginosis preterm birth was significantly higher than non bacterial vaginosis group (p< 0.05). We concluded that bacterial vaginosis was an important risk factor for preterm birth and should be investigated during pregnancy.