Authors say study supports comprehensive STI testing in women with bacterial vaginosis
TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2026 (HealthDay News) — More than 1 in 10 women (12 percent) positive for bacterial vaginosis (BV) are infected with at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI), according to a study published in the August issue of O&G Open.
Elizabeth M. Marlowe, Ph.D., from Quest Diagnostics in Secaucus, New Jersey, and colleagues evaluated the prevalence and risk for concurrent STIs, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Mycoplasma genitalium, among women with laboratory-confirmed BV or vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). The analysis included 1.5 million girls and women (aged 15 years and older) who underwent molecular testing for BV, VVC, C trachomatis, N gonorrhoeae, or T vaginalis from 2022 to 2024.
The researchers found that overall BV and VVC positivity rates were 38.7 and 28.5 percent, respectively, with 10.8 percent of patients positive for both. Among women positive for BV, 12.0 percent had at least one STI, with 10.9 percent having only one STI and 1.1 percent having two to four STIs. Among women negative for BV, 3.8 percent had at least one STI, including 3.6 percent with only one STI and 0.2 percent with two to four STIs. When adjusting for age, geographic region, and VVC results, positive BV status was significantly associated with increased odds of a positive C trachomatis (odds ratio [OR], 2.8), N gonorrhoeae (OR, 3.8), T vaginalis (OR, 3.6), and M genitalium (OR, 1.9) test.
“STIs can lead to serious reproductive and other health complications when left undetected and untreated,” coauthor Damian P. Alagia III, M.D., also from Quest Diagnostics, said in a statement. “We hope our new data inspires much-needed additional research on this clinical area while also reinforcing for clinicians and policy makers the value of a comprehensive diagnostic approach that considers STI testing for patients with BV.”
Several authors disclosed ties to Hologic, the maker of the test kits, and Quest Diagnostics, which funded the study.
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