World Expert Seeks Participants for Study on Common Women's Illness

DETROIT, July 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the world's foremost authorities on Bacterial Vaginosis, or BV, is raising awareness about the illness that affects more than 21 million women, or 29 percent of women of reproductive age, in the United States. BV often goes unnoticed – 84 percent of those diagnosed report no symptoms. This easily treatable illness can result in infertility, increased chances of getting sexually transmitted diseases and premature delivery.

Jack D. Sobel, M.D., Wayne State University School of Medicine Dean and an Infectious Disease specialist with the Wayne State University Physician Group, is a widely published and strongly funded physician-researcher. He opened the first clinic to treat BV in the United States and has been involved in basic science, translational and clinical research since his Infectious Diseases Research Fellowship in 1976 at the National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases' Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, part of the National Institutes of Health.

To help diagnose and predict recurrence of BV, Dr. Sobel is conducting a free study for women – the only one of its kind in the country, thanks to a grant from the NIAID. Pre-menopausal women are asked to join the study to help validate a new molecular tool and strategy to diagnose and predict recurrence of the common disease.

Bacterial Vaginosis is a sign of a change in the growth of vaginal bacteria. The resulting chemical imbalance occurs when different types of bacteria outnumber Lactobacillus, the beneficial bacteria.

"It's the most common infection of the vagina in women and you can get it through sex and frequent douching. Medication can treat the disease but it has a tendency to reoccur," Dr. Sobel said.

The use of antibiotics may also be a risk factor for getting BV. Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria, but they also kill "good bacteria" in the vagina. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2013 issued a report that showed U.S. physicians prescribed 258 million doses of antibiotics in 2010 – 833 prescriptions for every 1,000 Americans. The same report said up to 50 percent of all antibiotics prescribed are unnecessary. Another report issued in 2014 showed that broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions for adults continued to increase.

Study Requirements:

• Must be older than 18 and not on hormone replacement therapy
• Must not have had treatment in the previous year, or require treatment in the coming year, for genital cancer
• Must not be allergic to metronidazole
• Must be willing to use condoms if sexually active, and refrain from using non-study vaginal medications
• Must not be pregnant, nursing or trying to get pregnant in the next year

The study requires a monthly visit to the Tolan Park Medical Building, 3901 Chrysler Service Drive, Suite 4A, Detroit, for as long as the participant is willing to do so, up to nine months. Participants will receive compensation at each monthly visit.

There is no charge for exams, supplies or possible treatment. For screening questions and more information, call 313-355-0170 or 313-745-0448, or email [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected].

About Wayne State University School of Medicine
Founded in 1868, the Wayne State University School of Medicine is the largest single-campus medical school in the nation, with more than 1,000 medical students. In addition to undergraduate medical education, the school offers master's degree, doctoral and M.D.-Ph.D. programs in 14 areas of basic science to about 400 students annually. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter @wsu_med_school and Pinterest.

About Wayne State University Physician Group
Wayne State University Physician Group is the one of the largest nonprofit multi-specialty physician practice groups in southeast Michigan, with more than 2,000 affiliated physicians providing primary and specialty care. As faculty members at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, WSUPG doctors are at the forefront of medical science. To make an appointment at one of our more than 180 locations, call 877-WSU-DOCS (877-978-3627) or visit www.upgdocs.org. Connect with WSUPG at www.facebook.com/WSUPGDocs or follow @WSUPGDocs on Twitter.

SOURCE Wayne State University Physician Group

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