Vulvovaginitis and the treatment of asymptomatic partners: a systematic review and metanalisis

ABSTRACT

Treating sexual partners of women with vaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis is an issue in debate. Despite the present recommendations of the international guidelines to not to treat the asymptomatic sexual partners, this is a frequent practice between gynecologists. Objective: evaluate the influence of treating asymptomatic sexual partner of women with recurrent vulvovaginitis. Methods: databases searched PubMed, Embase, Scielo and CINAHAL. Selection criteria randomized clinical trials published from 1982 to 2012 were included. Studies involving pregnant women were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Jadad scale. Data collection and analysis: Review Manager 5.1 was used for statistical analysis. Results: eight randomized clinical trials were included based on the chosen criteria 1,088 women were enrolled. For bacterial vaginosis, the RR for cure was 1.00 (95%CI 0.95?1.05) (p = 0.13), and for recurrence 0.84 (95%CI 0.62-1.14) (p = 0.34). Vaginal candidiasis had a RR of 1.03 (95%CI 0.94-1.14) (p = 0.48) for cure, and 1.02 (95%CI 0.77?1.33 p = 0.91) for recurrence. Conclusion: treatment of asymptomatic sexual partners of women with vaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis does not affect the cure or recurrence rates and may increase the risk of side effects and unnecessary financial costs.