Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

    Trichomoniasis with the cause of trichomonas vaginalis(T.V) and bacterial vaginosis(B.V) are well recognized as sexual transmitted diseases(STD) affecting prematuration and low weight birth. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of T.V and B.V, their coincidences, their effects on women sterilities, prematuration and low weight birth in pregnant women referred to Shahid Akbarabadi Maternity Hospital. During one year study(started from June 2002), 368 pregnant women voluntarily enrolled for regular checking and parturition in the above-mentioned maternity hospital. After private interviewing, filling the questionnaires, doing clinical observations and recording the results, vaginal and posterior fornix samples were collected and labled. In hospital’s laboratory, the vaginal samples were checked macroscopically, pH was determined, Whiff Test was carried out for odour concentration, and finally gram staining was used for detecting clue cells and consequently finding B.V infection. In order to find T.V, direct smears and culture methods on Dorse Media were utilized. In this study, of 20(5.5%) infected women, 11(2.9%), 8(2.2%) and one(0.3%) were infected with T.V, B.V and fungi respectively. In none of the patients, conincidence of T.V and B.V was observed. Although the highest age of pregnancy was 25 or below, there was not any statistically significant relationship between infection and pregnant women’s age, number of parturitions, age of pregnancy abortions and clinical symptoms. Only one case(0.3%) of T.V infected woman was observed for prematuration with a low weight birth. The present study indicated that the poor level of T.V and B.V infection in pregnant women, as compared with those of free sexual relationship countries is essentially due to their culture, family etics and constitutional beliefs. This study also showed that since the vaginal cavity is an eco-type and natural biological living orifice therefore, the only physical presence of T.V and B.V can not cause sterility in women unless under non optimum or non physiologic condition. According to this survey, the precise clinical and laboratory examination of the pregnant women and their vaginal discharges are important since they may be wrongly identified as vaginal secretion or semen liquid with pathogenic materials, particulary by an inexperienced gynecologist.