RISK-FACTORS FOR VULVO-VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY AMONG UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (WC) is a common inflammatory condition cause d by vaginal overgrowth of Candida albicans. Typical symptoms include pruritus and discharge. To test the association between several hypoth esized risk factors and WC, we conducted a case-control study among un iversity students, with both clinic and population controls. Symptomat ic, culture-proven WC was associated with receptive oral sex twice or more in the previous 2 weeks [us not at all, odds ratio (OR) = 3.5; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-7.0]; oral contraceptive use (OR = 1. 8; 95% CI = 0.95-3.6); spermicide use (OR = 3.3; 95% CI = 1.6-6.8); a prior diagnosis of VVC in the previous year (OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 1.5-5. 9); and black (OR = 6.8; 95% CI = 3.1-15) and ''other'' race (OR = 2.2 ; 95% CI = 1.0-4.6). Estimates are from a cases us population controls logistic regression model including all five variables; results for c ases us clinic controls were similar. After adjusting for these factor s, many other hypothesized risk factors, such as antibiotic use, menst rual hygiene practices, and vaginal intercourse, had little associatio n with VVC.