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Abstract
Objective: To estimate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis, Candida albicans, and Trichomonas vaginalis infections in a population of postmenopausal women with symptoms of vaginitis seen
at a vaginitis clinic either as self-referred or clinician referred patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 148 postmenopausal women (cases) and 1564 controls of
reproductive age attending a vaginitis clinic. C. albicans and T. vaginalis infections were diagnosed by culture techniques. Bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed
on the basis of clinical findings. Results: Fifty-six (37.8%) postmenopausal women and 834 (53.3%) controls were diagnosed with
T. vaginalis or C. albicans infection, or bacterial vaginosis, or mixed infection (odds ratio (OR) 0.53, 95%
confidence interval (CI) 0.37–0.75). C. albicans and T. vaginalis infection were diagnosed in 34.1% (![Math Eq]()
) and 1.92% (![Math Eq]()
) of women of childbearing age and in 3.5% (![Math Eq]()
) and 10.8% of postmenopausal women, respectively. (P < 0.05 for both comparisons). The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was similar between
the two groups (![Math Eq]()
in postmenopausal patients and ![Math Eq]()
in controls of reproductive age; P = 0.22). Conclusions: Among postmenopausal women attending a vaginitis clinic, a defined diagnosis of
bacterial vaginosis, C. albicans or T. vaginalis infection can be made in about one third of such patients. Concerning the two thirds
of symptomatic women lacking such a microbiologic diagnosis, alternative causes (e.g.,
estrogen deficiency, nonanaerobic bacterial infections, local irritants or allergenes,
and dermatologic conditions) need to be considered.
) and 1.92% (
) of women of childbearing age and in 3.5% (
) and 10.8% of postmenopausal women, respectively. (P < 0.05 for both comparisons). The prevalence of bacterial vaginosis was similar between
the two groups (
in postmenopausal patients and 
in controls of reproductive age; P = 0.22). Conclusions: Among postmenopausal women attending a vaginitis clinic, a defined diagnosis of
bacterial vaginosis, C. albicans or T. vaginalis infection can be made in about one third of such patients. Concerning the two thirds
of symptomatic women lacking such a microbiologic diagnosis, alternative causes (e.g.,
estrogen deficiency, nonanaerobic bacterial infections, local irritants or allergenes,
and dermatologic conditions) need to be considered.Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 27,
1997
Received:
January 16,
1997
Identification
Copyright
© 1997 Published by Elsevier Inc.
