ArticlePloS one2013
The burden of bacterial vaginosis: women's experience of the physical, emotional, sexual and social impact of living with recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
Article in PloS one, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 99 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
99 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 218 citations in OpenAlex.
- Probiotics, a promising therapy to reduce the recurrence of bacterial vaginosis in women? a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in nutrition · 2022Pooled it
- Lactic acid-containing products for bacterial vaginosis and their impact on the vaginal microbiota: A systematic review.PloS one · 2021Pooled it
- Antibiotic treatment for the sexual partners of women with bacterial vaginosis.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2016Pooled it
- Factors Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis among Women Who Have Sex with Women: A Systematic Review.PloS one · 2015Pooled it
- Vaginal microbiota impacts of a Lactobacillus crispatus live biotherapeutic and predictors of colonization in randomized controlled trial.Cell host & microbe · 2026Trial
- Bacterial Vaginosis [BV] knowledge, attitudes and behavioural changes after BV diagnosis among women enrolled in a clinical trial in Boston, USA and Vulindlela, South Africa: a qualitative study.BMC women's health · 2025Trial
- Efficacy of Dequalinium Chloride vs Metronidazole for the Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA network open · 2024Trial
- Intravaginal lactic acid gel versus oral metronidazole for treating women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis: the VITA randomised controlled trial.BMC women's health · 2023Trial
- Randomized Trial of Lactin-V to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis.The New England journal of medicine · 2020Trial
- Trial
- Two Phase 1, Open-Label, Single-Dose, Randomized, Crossover Studies to Assess the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability of Orally Administered Granules of Secnidazole (2 g) in Healthy Female Volunteers Under Different Administration Conditions.Clinical pharmacology in drug development · 2018Trial
- Randomized, double-blind, comparative study of oral metronidazole and tinidazole in treatment of bacterial vaginosis.Indian journal of pharmacologyTrial
- Understanding The Role of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus in Vaginal Dysbiosis: in Vitro Studies and Clinical Evidence.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026Review
- An Epidemiologic Review of Endocrine-disrupting Chemicals and Understudied Gynecologic Health Conditions Affecting Quality of Life.Current environmental health reports · 2026Review
- Characteristics associated with Lactobacillus-depleted vaginal microbiota in women with different sexual behavior.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The interventional value and research progress of vaginal microbiota transplantation in improving female sexual quality of life associated with dysbiosis of the reproductive microecosystem.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
- Feminine hygiene products and black women's reproductive health: a review of health inequities, racialized marketing, and practice implications.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Review
- Lived experience and clinical need of women of reproductive age with Ureaplasma urealyticum infection: a qualitative study.Annals of medicine · 2025Article
- Intravaginal boric acid treatment for recurrent bacterial vaginosis: short-term effects on vaginal health parameters and patient satisfaction.BMC women's health · 2025Observational
- The Hygienic Significance of Microbiota and Probiotics for Human Wellbeing.Probiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2025Review
39 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundBacterial vaginosis is a common vaginal infection, causing an abnormal vaginal discharge and/or odour in up to 50% of sufferers. Recurrence is common following recommended treatment. There are limited data on women's experience of bacterial vaginosis, and the impact on their self-esteem, sexual relationships and quality of life. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences and impact of recurrent bacterial vaginosis on women.
methodsA social constructionist approach was chosen as the framework for the study. Thirty five women with male and/or female partners participated in semi-structured interviews face-to-face or by telephone about their experience of recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
resultsRecurrent bacterial vaginosis impacted on women to varying degrees, with some women reporting it had little impact on their lives but most reporting it had a moderate to severe impact. The degree to which it impacted on women physically, emotionally, sexually and socially often depended on the frequency of episodes and severity of symptoms. Women commonly reported that symptoms of bacterial vaginosis made them feel embarrassed, ashamed, 'dirty' and very concerned others may detect their malodour and abnormal discharge. The biggest impact of recurrent bacterial vaginosis was on women's self-esteem and sex lives, with women regularly avoiding sexual activity, in particular oral sex, as they were too embarrassed and self-conscious of their symptoms to engage in these activities. Women often felt confused about why they were experiencing recurrent bacterial vaginosis and frustrated at their lack of control over recurrence.
conclusionWomen's experience of recurrent bacterial vaginosis varied broadly and significantly in this study. Some women reported little impact on their lives but most reported a moderate to severe impact, mainly on their self-esteem and sex life. Further support and acknowledgement of these impacts are required when managing women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.