Bacterial vaginosis diagnosed at the first antenatal visit better predicts preterm labour than diagnosis later in pregnancy
Schoeman, J.; Steyn, P.S.; Odendaal, H.J.; Grové, D.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 25(8): 751-753
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0144-3615 PMID: 16368577 DOI: 10.1080/01443610500314660Document Number: 265666
This study was conducted as part of a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial, the aim of which was to determine whether vitamin C could reduce the recurrence risk of pre-term labour. In this study, women with a history of pre-term labour in a preceding pregnancy were randomised to receive either 250 mg vitamin C or a matching placebo twice daily until 34 weeks' gestation. They attended a dedicated pre-term labour clinic every 2 weeks. All women were screened for bacterial vaginosis (BV) at each visit. It was first determined that vitamin C did not have any effect on the presence of BV. Women who were diagnosed with BV before 20 weeks' gestation were at higher risk of delivering pre-term than those who developed BV after 20 weeks.