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Having bacterial vaginosis (BV) during pregnancy is can pose a risk to a healthy full-term pregnancy, with BV associated with preterm delivery.
The last trimester of pregnancy puts the ‘final touches’ on the baby, including increases in fat, growth, hearing, and brain development. These elements of development will still occur after the baby is born.
Premature babies may miss out on the valuable nutrients provided in the late stages of pregnancy. Babies usually survive when born prematurely if the baby is developed enough; however, they often require extra support for a period of time.1
How does BV cause problems during pregnancy?
BV bacteria can break down the mucous in the plug to extract the nutrients and cause inflammation, which may contribute to preterm birth. It is better to treat BV and keep the mucous plug intact and inflammation down to keep the baby safely inside.
BV and preterm birth and premature rupture of membranes
One study2 looked at the prevalence of BV in asymptomatic pregnant women and how it affected preterm births and rupturing of membranes.
The authors studied over a thousand pregnant women between 16 and 28 weeks’ gestation, with results clearly showing that the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was higher in the BV group. BV was determined to pose a very real risk. The mechanisms are not well understood, but research continues.
Antibiotics don’t stop preterm delivery in women with BV
Another study3 showed that asymptomatic BV treatment with antibiotics did not reduce preterm and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. This may be because antibiotics do not completely resolve the infection in many cases. Recurrence rates after antibiotic treatment sit at around 50%.
There is a multitude of studies that show the same findings: BV can cause preterm birth4.
Safe non-antibiotic BV treatments during pregnancy
Some Killing BV treatments are safe to use during pregnancy. If you are pregnant with BV, and want non-drug options for treatment, book with a My Vagina naturopath for pregnancy-safe, individualised treatments.
References
- 1.Kenfack-Zanguim J, Kenmoe S, Bowo-Ngandji A, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. Published online October 2023:9-18. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2023.08.013
- 2.Purwar M, Ughade S, Bhagat B, Agarwal V, Kulkarni H. Bacterial Vaginosis in Early Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome. J of Obstet and Gynaecol. Published online August 2001:175-181. doi:10.1111/j.1447-0756.2001.tb01248.x
- 3.Carey JC, Klebanoff MA, Hauth JC, et al. Metronidazole to Prevent Preterm Delivery in Pregnant Women with Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis. N Engl J Med. Published online February 24, 2000:534-540. doi:10.1056/nejm200002243420802
- 4.Sethi N, Narayanan V, Saaid R, et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and adverse outcomes of bacterial vaginosis among pregnant women: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. Published online January 20, 2025. doi:10.1186/s12884-025-07144-8
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