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Review
. 2024 Apr 18;60(4):648.
doi: 10.3390/medicina60040648.

Cracking the Code: Investigating the Correlation between Aerobic Vaginitis and Preterm Labor

Panagiota Zarmakoupi  1 , Alexandros Psarris  1 , Christina Karasmani  1 , Panagiotis Antsaklis  1 , Marianna Theodora  1 , Michael Syndos  1 , Andreas Pampanos  1 , Kalliopi I Pappa  1 , Ekaterini Domali  1 , Nikolaos Thomakos  1 , Karolina Akinosoglou  2 , Aristotelis Tsiakalos  3 , George Daskalakis  1
Affiliations
Review

Cracking the Code: Investigating the Correlation between Aerobic Vaginitis and Preterm Labor

Panagiota Zarmakoupi et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is a distinct clinical entity characterized by inflammation and abnormal vaginal microflora. Often mistaken for bacterial vaginosis, AV remains relatively unknown and underdiagnosed. AV's understanding is evolving, with some experts suggesting it may primarily be an immunological disorder, the prevalence of which has a range of 7-13% in non-pregnant women and 4.1-8.3% during pregnancy. Pregnancy can affect susceptibility to vaginal infections, leading to adverse outcomes for the woman and the newborn. This review summarizes the correlation between AV and adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly preterm birth, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates. An improved understanding of AV's impact on pregnancy outcomes can lead to early recognition, proper management, and effective interventions. While some studies support an association between AV and preterm labor, the existing knowledge of this relationship remains limited. The evidence suggests that AV may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes, mainly preterm birth, but further research is needed to establish a definitive link. Further studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and clarify AV's role in premature labor. A comprehensive understanding of AV's impact on pregnancy outcomes is crucial for early recognition, appropriate management, and effective interventions.

Keywords: aerobic vaginitis; desquamative aerobic vaginitis; pregnancy outcomes; preterm labor.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Process of elimination and inclusion of studies for review. After conducting a PubMed and Scopus search, a total of 95 articles were reviewed, out of which 11 were removed as duplicates, 57 were deemed irrelevant, and 21 were excluded due to limited information and small sample sizes. Finally, 6 studies were deemed suitable and included in the final review. PRISMA flow diagram [10].
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