Bacterial Vaginosis Testing Q: Should pregnant women be tested for bacterial vaginosis?
Dr. Donnica: It seems like pregnant women are tested for just about everything, but bacterial vaginosis (BV) is not yet on the “must do” list. BV is a common condition among women of childbearing age resulting in a vaginal discharge caused by an imbalance in vaginal bacteria. Despite research showing that pregnant women with BV have a higher risk of pre-term delivery, evidence does not merit regular screening to reduce the incidence of pre-term delivery. For women at high risk due to a previous pre-term delivery, the US Prevention Services Task Force (USPSTF) found conflicting results regarding the benefit of screening and treatment, and concluded that these options be left to the judgment of clinicians.
