Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal condition caused by the overgrowth of anaerobic bacteria, owing to a shift in the vaginal microbial ecosystem. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between the ano-vaginal distance and the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis. In this cross-sectional study, the ano-vaginal distance was measured in 100 women participants complaining of vaginal discharge, divided into two groups. Group (1) consisted of 74 women who were negative for bacterial vaginosis, and group (2) consisted of 26 women who had bacterial vaginosis based on Amsel criteria. The negative cases for bacterial vaginosis had significantly longer ano-vaginal distance as compared with those who had bacterial vaginosis (3.85 ± 0.54 versus 3.38 ± 1.02). A positive correlation was detected between ano-vaginal distance and the risk of developing bacterial vaginosis. Further extensive studies are required to investigate this finding in different population groups.
Keywords: Ano-vaginal distance; Bacterial vaginosis; Lower genital tract; Risk.
© 2021. Society for Reproductive Investigation.