Longitudinal Study of Vaginal Flora

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Inclusion Criteria Non-pregnant reproductive-age females (age 15-44) Exclusion Criteria Immunocompromised status Receiving or expected to receive in the next 12 months cytotoxic or immunosuppressive drugs Receiving or expected to receive in the next 12 months one or more 30-day courses of corticosteroids Congenital or acquired immune deficiency; known HIV positivity Primary or secondary affective disorder, psychosis, emotional or intellectual limitations that preclude informed consent Non-fluency in English Post-menopausal (natural or surgical) Status post hysterectomy or expected to undergo hysterectomy in the next 12 months Status post pelvic radiotherapy, or expected to undergo pelvic radiotherapy in the next 12 months Receiving or expected to receive chronic (daily for at least 30 days) antibiotics in the next 12 months Planning to move out of the area in the next 12 months Participating or expected to participate during the next 12 months in a clinical trial in which antibiotics or topical microbicides will be administered in a blinded manner Women who unexpectedly develop one of these conditions during their participation will continue to be followed, unless a specific contraindication arises.]]>
3,620 reproductive-age women were recruited to the study and followed for one year between August 1999 and February 2002 at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL, USA.]]>