Screening and treating bacterial vaginosis to prevent preterm delivery

Serial Screening and Treatment of Bacterial Vaginosis in Pregnancy to Prevent Preterm Delivery: A Randomized Control Trial

Not applicable Interventional Loma Linda University · NCT05278130

This study is testing if regular screening and treatment for bacterial vaginosis can help pregnant women with a history of preterm births have healthier pregnancies and reduce the chances of delivering early.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment600 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexFemale
SponsorLoma Linda University Academic / other
Locations1 site (Loma Linda, California)
Trial IDNCT05278130 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This randomized control trial aims to investigate whether serial screening and treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV) can reduce the risk of preterm delivery in pregnant women with a history of preterm births. Participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group, which will undergo regular testing for BV starting at 16 weeks of gestation, or a control group with standard care. The study hypothesizes that increased monitoring and timely treatment of asymptomatic BV will lead to better pregnancy outcomes. The trial will take place at Loma Linda University, focusing on women who are at high risk for preterm delivery.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant women over 18 years old with a history of preterm delivery and less than 32 weeks gestational age at their initial visit.

Not a fit: Patients who are not considered high risk for preterm delivery or have medical indications for iatrogenic preterm delivery will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the incidence of preterm delivery in high-risk pregnant women.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown a strong association between bacterial vaginosis and preterm labor, suggesting that this approach may be promising, though it may not have been extensively tested in this specific manner.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Female
* Age greater than or equal to 18 years old
* Pregnancy at less than 32 weeks gestational age at initial obstetric visit with Loma Linda Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Clinic
* History of at least one prior preterm delivery \>16 and \<37 weeks not due to iatrogenic indications, or short cervical length \<2.5cm
* Willing to receive prenatal standard of care and comply with treatment plan and other study procedures at Loma Linda

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients not deemed to be high risk for preterm delivery
* Patient with cervical dilation ≥1cm on initial exam or with protruding membranes
* Current pregnancy is multigestation
* Medical indications for iatrogenic preterm delivery during this pregnancy (e.g. preeclampsia with severe features)
* Desires termination during this pregnancy

Where this trial is running

Loma Linda, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Bacterial VaginosisPreterm DeliveryVaginoses, Bacterial
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.