Investigation of the Relationship Between Obesity and Bacterial Vaginosis Using Microbiological Methods and Anthropometric Measurements

Objective: Nugent scoring is accepted as the gold standard for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis. Recently, it was reported that there could be a relationship between obesity and bacterial vaginosis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between bacterial vaginosis and obesity using Nugent score and body mass index (BMI). Method: A total of 106 fertile and sexually active patients in the childbearing age admitted to gynecology outpatient department of a state hospital in our city with symptoms of vaginal discharge and itching between May 1 and November 1, 2019 were included. Pregnant women, patients with bleeding, patients with a history of cancer, contraceptives/antibiotic/vaginal drug use within the previous three weeks, chronic disease and sexual intercourse within the last two days were excluded from the study. Anthropometric measurements and calculations of BMI were performed by the dietitian. Vaginal smears were obtained by a gynecologist and Nugent scoring was performed after Gram-staining. Results: According to Nugent score, patients were classified as having bacterial vaginosis, intermediate and normal flora. Using BMI, patients were classified as obese (36.8%), overweight (34.9%), and normal (28.3%). Nugent scoring method revealed that 33 (31.1%) of 106 patients had intermediate flora, 45 (42.5%) had bacterial vaginosis and 28 (26.4%) had normal flora. No significant relationship was found between BMI and bacterial vaginosis. Conclusion: We found no significant relationship between body mass index and bacterial vaginosis. Limited number of studies investigating the relationship between bacterial vaginosis and body mass index have contradictory results. Therefore, our study may help to close the gap on this issue.