From the Research
Relationship between Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
- The relationship between BV and uncontrolled DM is complex, with evidence suggesting that patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with infections of the genital tract, including BV 1, 2, 3.
- Studies have shown that poorly controlled diabetes can lead to an increased risk of genital infections, including BV, due to specific immune aberrations and elevated glucose levels in the blood 2, 3.
- The incidence of BV is relatively high in infertile women, and the infection can spread to the upper genital tract, causing adverse fertility outcomes 4.
- However, one study found no significant difference in the prevalence of asymptomatic BV between pregnant women with and without diabetic conditions during pregnancy 5.
- The vaginal microbiome plays an important role in women's health and diseases, and an imbalance of the vaginal flora can lead to BV, which is characterized by an overgrowth of anaerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria 4.
- Early diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic BV can help improve fertility outcomes, and proper management of urogenital infections is crucial to reduce the risk of recurrence and complications in patients with DM 3, 4.
Key Findings
- Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of genital infections, including BV 1, 2, 3.
- Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to an increased risk of genital infections due to immune aberrations and elevated glucose levels 2, 3.
- BV can spread to the upper genital tract, causing adverse fertility outcomes 4.
- Proper management of urogenital infections is crucial to reduce the risk of recurrence and complications in patients with DM 3, 4.