Characters of Bacterial Vaginosis and Association with Dyspareunia and Dysuria in Pregnant Women in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND

Bacterial vaginosis is one of the most frequent vaginal tract infections during pregnancy. It is characterized by elevated vaginal pH, milky, creamy discharge, and an amine- or fishy-smelling odor.

STUDY AIM: Our study aimed to describe the characteristics and presenting manifestations of bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analytical study included pregnant Saudi women who have been diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. We used the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 for data management and statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The study included 456 women and found that 59.7% of people felt vulval itching, 7.7% reported swelling, 81% reported increased secretions, 62.5% reported dyspareunia, and 44.6% reported burning micturition. Thirty-one percent of individuals reported yellowish discharges, while 32.1% reported a foul odor. Older women with lower educational levels, who had vaginal itching and swelling, had significantly higher rates of burning urination.

CONCLUSION

Our study found that most of the presenting symptoms were significantly associated with dyspareunia and dysuria. The study also shows that nearly all the participants recovered with proper treatment. We recommend healthcare systems meticulously detect and cure bacterial vaginosis as it is a preventable cause of complicated pregnancy.