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Paternal race and bacterial vaginosis during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Simhan HN, Bodnar LM, Krohn MA

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. hsimhan@mail.magee.edu

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the joint effects of maternal and paternal race on risk of bacterial vaginosis (BV) during the first trimester. STUDY DESIGN: In this cohort of black women and white women with singleton gestation at <13 weeks (n = 325), BV was diagnosed by vaginal pH and Gram stain. RESULTS: BV was less common among white women than black women. Paternal race modified the effect of maternal race on BV risk. BV risk was 2-fold greater among both white female-black male partners and black female-white male partners. BV risk was also 2-fold greater among black female-black male partners. Black race among both partners confers no additional risk than with 1 black partner. CONCLUSION: Paternal black race is an independent risk factor for BV during pregnancy and is as important a risk factor as maternal race. Studies of BV and adverse pregnancy outcomes should consider paternal race.

Published 29 January 2008 in Am J Obstet Gynecol, 198(2): 196.e1-4.
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