SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF WOMEN WITH REPEATED EPISODES OF VULVO-VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS

One hundred and two women with a history of a median of six episodes o f vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and 204 age-matched controls particip ated in a structured in-depth interview on sexual behavior. Mean and m edian ages of the two groups were 26.7 and 26 years, respectively. Sex ual characteristics, associated with VVC in crude analyses, were adjus ted in multifactorial analyses for coital frequency, experience of cas ual sex, vaginal irritation, smoking, alcohol habits, and having a ste ady partner. In addition, education, as a measure of socioeconomic sta tus, was added in the multifactorial analyses. VVC was not associated with multiple sexual partners or ever-experience of causal sex. Sexual variables that remained significant or were of borderline significanc e after adjustment were: age at first intercourse (p = 0.001), casual sex partners the previous month (odds ratio (OR) = 3.1), sex during me nstruation (OR = 1.7), regular oral sex (OR = 2.4), experience of anal intercourse ever (OR = 2.4), oral intercourse the last month (OR = 3. 1), and frequency of oral intercourse (p = 0.02). Thus, the study indi cates that certain sexual activities are associated with repeated epis odes of VVC.