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Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by the presence of large amounts of anaerobic bacteria, Gardnerella vaginalis and Mycoplasma hominis in the vagina, where they replace the normally present lactobacilli. The condition is implicated as a possible cause of preterm delivery. In our study, bacterial vaginosis was diagnosed clinically and microbiologically. The incidence of bacterial vaginosos in 72 pregnant women attending the Clinic for Pathologic Pregnancy (5.5%) was lower than that in 100 women examined prior to artifical abortion at the Day Clinic (14%) and in 23 women evaluated at the Clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (23.0%). The difference in incidence between the groups was not statistically significant. Factors found to be significantly associated with bacterial vaginosis included: smoking 15 or more cigarettes per day (odds ratio 7.15; 95% contidence interval 1.9–26.0) and age < 17 years at the first sexual intercourse (odds ratio 3.64; 95% contidence interval 2.2–7.1). The incidence of bacterial vaginosis is higher among non-pregnant women than among pregnant ones (odds ratio 3.22; 95% contidence interval 1.5–6.8), and in the first and second trimester of pregnancy than in the third (odds ratio 2.22; 95% contidence interval 0.9–5.2). Sexual habits and cigarette smoking seem to predispose women to bacterial vaginosis. The condition may resolve spontaneously during pregnancy. The pH determination and amine odour of the vaginal discharge can be used as a reliable screening test, while Gram-stain reading of the vaginal smear is employed to corroborate the diagnosis. Because of the small size of the series studied, it was not possible to prove the relationship between bacterial vaginosis and preterm delivery.