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Bacterial vaginosis - Management
Basis for recommendation
Examination and testing in pregnant women
- CKS found no guidelines specifically regarding examination and investigation in pregnant women, but making an accurate diagnosis and excluding other causes seem prudent, given the potential adverse outcomes of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in pregnancy and that the recommended treatment is with antibiotics.
- CKS expert reviewers agree that examination and testing should always be done in pregnant women with BV, because the symptoms and clinical signs of BV are less reliable in pregnancy and because of the altered risk-to-benefit ratio.
- Recommendations for examination and investigations are consistent with UK guidelines for the management of abnormal vaginal discharge outside of genito-urinary medicine settings [FFPRHC and BASHH, 2006; RCGP and BASHH, 2006].
Transport and storage of swabs
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