D. Hellberg et al., SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF WOMEN WITH REPEATED EPISODES OF VULVO-VAGINAL CANDIDIASIS, European journal of epidemiology, 11(5), 1995, pp. 575-579
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.