Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 25 study participants enrolled at the Public Health Service clinic in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, from September 2015 to January 2017
Demographics | N = 25 (%) |
|---|---|
Age, median [IQR] | 24 [22–29] |
Ethnic background | |
 Dutch | 22 (88) |
 Middle-Eastern | 1 (4) |
 Eastern European | 1 (4) |
 African (paternal heritage) | 1 (4) |
Has ever been pregnant | 1 (4) |
Has any children | 0 (0) |
Completed higher education | 25 (100) |
Smoking | 5a (20) |
Medication use last 30 days | |
 Antibiotics use | 0 (0) |
 Flucanozol | 1 (4) |
 Corticosteroids | 1 (4) |
 Valaciclovir | 1 (4) |
 Combined oral contraceptives | 15 (60) |
Menstrual cycle | |
 Regular menses | 24 (96) |
 Length of menstrual cycle, median [IQR] (n = 24) | 28 [28–28] |
 Protection during menses | |
  Tampons | 18 (72) |
  Sanitary pads | 2 (8) |
  Tampons & sanitary pads | 4 (16) |
  Menses cup | 1 (4) |
Sexual behavior | |
 Sex with men only | 24 (96) |
 Sex with women only | 1 (4) |
 Number of sex partners last 30 days | |
  0 | 5 (20) |
  1 | 20 (80) |
  (Regular) condom use | 9 (36) |
Self-reported urogenital symptoms | |
 Vaginal discharge | 7 (28) |
 Pain during sex | 1 (4) |
Vaginal hygiene behavior last 6 months | |
 External vaginal cleansing product | |
  Only water | 15 (60) |
  Water & lactic acid containing product | 9 (36) |
  Water & soap | 1 (4) |
 Tool used to apply cleansing product | |
  Only hands | 23 (92) |
  Hands & washing cloth or tissue | 2 (8) |
 Used an intra-vaginal cleansing product | 0 (0) |