Table 1.

Characteristics of the vaginal environment (Nugent score), stratified by the different gestation periods and conditions.

	First trimester miscarriage (n=9)	Normal pregnancies (n=63)			Puerperium (n=30**)
		1st trimester	2nd trimester	3rd trimester
Nugent score 0-3 (H) 4-6 (I) 7-10 (BV)	22.2% (2/9) 55.5% (5/9) 22.2% (2/9)	49.2% (31/63) 33.3% (21/63) 17.5% (11/63)	74.6% (47/63) 15.9% (10/63) 9.5% (6/63)	82.5% (52/63) 11.1% (7/63) 6.4% (4/63)	33.3% (10/30) 26.6% (8/30) 40.0% (12/30)
		p=0.001*

H, lactobacilli-dominated microbiome; I, intermediate flora; BV, bacterial vaginosis.

^*statistical significance is referred to the differences in microbial composition (Nugent score) during the three trimesters of pregnancy, excluding women suffering a first trimester miscarriage.

^**clinical and microbiological data during the puerperium were available only for 30 women.