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MARIJUANA USE IN WOMEN OF REPRODUCTIVE AGE AND RECURRENT BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS: A Retrospective Chart Review
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  • Victoria Vallejo,
  • Weiwei Shan,
  • John Ilagan,
  • Gary Goldberg
Victoria Vallejo
Northwell Health

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Weiwei Shan
Northwell Health Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
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John Ilagan
Weill Cornell Medical College
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Gary Goldberg
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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.