MARIJUANA USE IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE AND RECURRENT BACTERIAL
VAGINOSIS: A Retrospective Chart Review
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate whether marijuana use in reproductive age women
is associated with recurrent bacterial vaginosis. Design: Retrospective
chart review. Setting: Ten underserved clinics in New York City, NY.
Population: All women of reproductive age (15-45 years old) who
presented with a complaint of vaginal discharge from January 1st-
December 31st, 2019 and subsequently diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis.
Methods: The cohort was divided based on whether they met criteria for
recurrent bacterial vaginosis, defined as three or more separate
positive vaginal cultures with Gardnerella vaginalis in a year.
Descriptive statistics were used to compare both groups in terms of
sociodemographic and medical history. Logistic regression analysis was
used to estimate adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval
(CI). Main outcome measures: Compare between marijuana users and
non-users the odds of developing recurrent BV. Results Of 4,752 women
who presented with a complaint of a vaginal discharge, 1,380 (29.04%)
had bacterial vaginosis and of those, 5.8% met the criteria for
recurrent bacterial vaginosis. Marijuana use had an adjusted odds ratio
of 1.98 for recurrent bacterial vaginosis by multiple logistic
regression analysis (95% CI [1.15- 3.34]). Non-Hispanic women had
increased odds of developing recurrent bacterial vaginosis compared to
Hispanic women (adjusted odds ratio 1.79; 95% CI [1.07- 2.92]).
Conversely, increase in age was associated with a slightly decreased
likelihood of developing recurrent bacterial vaginosis (adjusted odds
ratio 0.95; 95% CI [0.92- 0.98]). Conclusion Reproductive age women
who self-report the use of marijuana have twice the odds of developing
recurrent BV.