Screening for bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis aimed at preventing premature delivery.

OBJECTIVE

We performed screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis during pregnancy for prevention of premature delivery. The incidence and the etiology of lower genital tract infections and premature delivery were examined to elucidate the effectiveness and problems of this trial.

METHODS

Three hundred sixty-five pregnant women who attended the obstetrical outpatient clinic in our hospital were included as subjects. The screening was done at prenatal-care visits around the 10th, 20th, and 30th gestational weeks.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight women were diagnosed as bacterial vaginosis and 54 women were successfully treated. Thirty-five women were diagnosed as cervicitis and all were cured. Nine women (2.5%) delivered before the 37th gestational week and 1 women delivered before the 35th gestational week because of cervical incompetence.

CONCLUSIONS

The treatment of bacterial vaginosis and cervicitis may prevent microbes in the lower genital tract from penetrating the intrauterine cavity and thereby reduce the incidence of premature delivery.