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ASHA is dedicated to helping people access information about sexual health. We have always been committed to offering accurate information based on science, not ideology.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common gynecological infection. BV is caused when the “good” and “bad” bacteria that naturally live in the vagina become out of balance. Some women will have no symptoms of a BV infection, but others may experience itching, irritation, and abnormal discharge. BV is not a sexually transmitted infection (STI), but when left untreated it can increase the risk of contracting other STIs including chlamydia, HPV, and HIV.
A new study from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai looked at the vaginal microbiome of young women to try to better understand the link between BV and STIs. It found that there are two distinct types of BV infection, one of which increases the risk of chlamydia infection. The researchers think this discovery could one day change how we screen for and treat BV.
Researchers recruited 560 adolescent and young adult women who were Black or Latina. Both BV and chlamydia are more common among women in these communities. They took samples of vaginal and cervical fluid from participants who did not have chlamydia, from those who had a current infection, and from those who had recently been treated with antibiotics. DNA sequencing of the samples allowed them to identify the two types of BV.
Dr. Robert Burk, who served as co-lead on this study, explained, “This research shows that specific changes in the cervicovaginal microbiome set the stage for chlamydia. And it shows that targeting treatment against the more-dangerous BV subtype could potentially prevent many women from developing chlamydia, which is particularly prevalent in historically underserved communities.”
Health care providers don’t yet have the technology to test for which type of BV a person has, but Burk and his colleagues envision a future where there is more regular testing for BV and high-risk types are treated immediately. “We can now determine which BV cases are most worrisome and should be closely monitored. Detecting and treating these infections could substantially reduce the incidence of chlamydia and its serious consequences including pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and miscarriage,” Burk explained.
More research has to be done, however, before this can become the standard for testing and treatment.
In the meantime, it’s important for women to see a provider whenever they have symptoms of vaginal itching, burning, or irritation. It could be a yeast infection, BV, or an STI such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. Getting diagnosed and treated as soon as possible can relieve symptoms, prevent long-term complications, and help stop the spread of STIs.
It’s also important that people who are sexually active get regularly tested for STIs like chlamydia or gonorrhea because they often have no symptoms. The CDC recommends, for example, that sexually active young women under 25 get screened for chlamydia at least once each year.
ASHA is dedicated to helping people access information about sexual health. We have always been committed to offering accurate information based on science, not ideology.
HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Learn the basics about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. The word prophylaxis means to prevent or control the spread of an infection or disease. The goal of PrEP is to prevent HIV infection from taking hold if you are exposed to the virus.
Life continues after becoming HIV positive. Thanks to new treatments, many people with HIV are living long, healthy lives.
Scabies is an infestation of the top layer of skin caused by the parasite. Scabies are passed on through close physical contact. Transmission is more likely when partners spend the night together than during a brief sexual encounter.
Molluscum contagiosum is a skin disease caused by the molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV)
Once a disease primarily of children, molluscum has evolved to become a sexually transmitted infection in adults.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be caused by a group of viruses—hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. When hepatitis viruses damage liver cells, scar tissue is formed and those cells can no longer function.
In the U.S., HPV infections are estimated to cause about 37,300 cases of cancer. The HPV vaccine can prevent over 90% of these cancers from ever developing.
ASHA believes that all people have the right to the information and services that will help them to have optimum sexual health. We envision a time when stigma is no longer associated with sexual health and our nation is united in its belief that sexuality is a normal, healthy, and positive aspect of human life.
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