BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is highly prevalent among African women and has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV-1. GOAL The goal of this study was to analyze the relationship among intravaginal practices, bathing, and BV. STUDY DESIGN The authors conducted a cross-sectional study of HIV-1-seronegative Kenyan female sex workers with...

As is the case for all anatomic sites with a mucosal surface, the vagina may be colonized by a variety of bacteria, fungi, and other potential pathogens. A normal vaginal flora is predominately composed of Lactobacillus species, with low bacterial diversity [1]. Lactobacilli provide significant health benefits to the host by decreasing the vaginal pH through lactic acid production, generating H...

BACKGROUND Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been found to be associated with HIV acquisition and transmission. This is suggested to be due to higher HIV RNA levels in cervicovaginal fluids in women living with HIV (WLWH) with BV, as bacteria associated with BV may induce viral replication and shedding in the genital tract despite undetectable HIV RNA plasma viral load. We examined the prevalence an...

Although sexually transmitted pathogens are capable of inducing pathogen-specific immune responses, vaginal administration of nonreplicating antigens elicits only weak, nondisseminating immune responses. The present study was undertaken to examine the potential of CpG-containing oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) for induction of chemokine responses in the genital tract mucosa and also as a vaginal...

Objective. The study was performed to review the complications of surgery for POP with or without surgery for SUI. This included the need for second procedure two years after the primary surgery. Study Design. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional comparative study at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision, Clinical Modification...

A prospective cohort study was conducted to examine the relationship between vaginal colonization with lactobacilli, bacterial vaginosis (BV), and acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and sexually transmitted diseases in a population of sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya. In total, 657 HIV-1-seronegative women were enrolled and followed at monthly intervals. At baseline, only 2...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Though nonoxynol-9 (N-9) is available in India as a spermicidal pessary, data on its safety as a potential microbicide among Indian women are not available. Nonoxynol-9 containing compounds have shown anti-HIV activity in in vitro studies and protection against cervical infections. Nonoxynol-9 is being extensively evaluated as a vaginal microbicide world-wide. We assesse...

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in HIV-infected women contributed to the impairment of their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) use on the vaginal Candida spp. isolation in HIV-infected compared to HIV-uninfected women. This cross-sectional study included 178 HIV-infected (HIV group) and 200 HIV-uninfected women (cont...

In women of reproductive age, a vaginal environment that is quantitatively dominated by hydrogen peroxide–producing Lactobacillus species typically has a pH considered to be normal (<4.7) and has consistently been associated with healthy pregnancy outcomes, lack of abnormal vaginal symptoms, and reduced risk for acquiring several sexually transmitted pathogens, including human immunodeficiency ...