Risk of Gonococcal Infection During Vaginal Exposure is Associated With High Vaginal pH and Active Menstruation.
Journal
Sexually transmitted diseases
ISSN: 1537-4521
Titre abrégé: Sex Transm Dis
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 7705941
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
02 2019
02 2019
Historique:
pubmed:
12
10
2018
medline:
26
2
2020
entrez:
12
10
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
An understanding of the biological reasons why 25% to 35% of women resist infection during vaginal intercourse with a man infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae could lead to novel control measures. We sought modifiable biological bases for infection resistance by comparing women in the same core-mixing group who did or did not become infected after sexual exposure. We enrolled 61 female contacts of index men with gonorrhea seen at Baltimore City Health Department clinics from January 2008 through May 2012. Exposure and sexual practices and histories, co-infections, physical signs on exam, patient symptom report, and menstrual history were collected. Thirty-eight (62.3%) of the exposed women developed cervical infections. Multiple logistic regression found that a vaginal pH of 4.5 or higher at presentation to clinic was significantly associated with gonococcal infection (adjusted odds ratio, 5.5; P = 0.037) in women who presented within one menstrual cycle, 35 days. In this group of women, there was a significant association between acquiring an N. gonorrhoeae cervical infection and sexual exposure during menstruation (adjusted odds ratio 12.5; P = 0.05). Modification of vaginal pH could be explored as novel strategy for reducing the risk of N. gonorrhoeae infections in women.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
An understanding of the biological reasons why 25% to 35% of women resist infection during vaginal intercourse with a man infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae could lead to novel control measures. We sought modifiable biological bases for infection resistance by comparing women in the same core-mixing group who did or did not become infected after sexual exposure.
METHODS
We enrolled 61 female contacts of index men with gonorrhea seen at Baltimore City Health Department clinics from January 2008 through May 2012. Exposure and sexual practices and histories, co-infections, physical signs on exam, patient symptom report, and menstrual history were collected.
RESULTS
Thirty-eight (62.3%) of the exposed women developed cervical infections. Multiple logistic regression found that a vaginal pH of 4.5 or higher at presentation to clinic was significantly associated with gonococcal infection (adjusted odds ratio, 5.5; P = 0.037) in women who presented within one menstrual cycle, 35 days. In this group of women, there was a significant association between acquiring an N. gonorrhoeae cervical infection and sexual exposure during menstruation (adjusted odds ratio 12.5; P = 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Modification of vaginal pH could be explored as novel strategy for reducing the risk of N. gonorrhoeae infections in women.
Identifiants
pubmed: 30308531
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000926
pmc: PMC6892601
mid: NIHMS1509713
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
86-90Subventions
Organisme : NIAID NIH HHS
ID : R01 AI065605
Pays : United States
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