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Complications of Bacterial Vaginosis

By Tracee Cornforth, About.com

Created: December 08, 2003

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board

Researchers have shown an association between BV and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility and tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. BV also can cause adverse outcomes of pregnancy such as premature delivery and low-birth-weight infants.

Therefore, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that doctors check all pregnant women for BV who previously have delivered a premature baby, whether or not the women have symptoms. If these women have BV, they should be treated with oral metronidazole or oral clindamycin. A pregnant woman who has not delivered a premature baby should be treated if she has symptoms and laboratory evidence of BV.

BV is also associated with increased risk of gonorrhea and HIV infection (HIV, human immunodeficiency virus, causes AIDS).

Bacterial Vaginosis - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - Complications

A Woman's Guide to Vaginal Infections and Vaginitis

Reprinted from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH)

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