Abstract
A prospective evaluation of 331 university women who were initiating use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), a cervical cap, diaphragm- spermicide, or other spermicidal methods was done to assess the effects of commonly used contraceptive methods on the vaginal flora. Vaginal introital cultures were performed at baseline and then weekly for 1 month. The prevalence of Escherichia coli vaginal colonization and of abnormal vaginal Gram stain scores (Nugent criteria) increased significantly among women using a cervical cap or diaphragm-spermicide but not among women using OCPs. Women with E. coli colonization were significantly more likely to have an abnormal Nugent score and an absence of lactobacilli. In a multivariate model, use of spermicidal contraception in the preceding week was associated with an abnormal Nugent score and with colonization with E. coli, Enterococcus species, and anaerobic gram-negative rods. Thus, spermicidal methods of contraception are associated with alterations of the vaginal micro flora that consequently may predispose women to genitourinary infections.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 595-601 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 181 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Mar 15 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
- Immunology
Cite this
Effects of contraceptive method on the vaginal microbial flora : A prospective evaluation. / Gupta, Kalpana; Hillier, Sharon L.; Hooton, Thomas; Roberts, Pacita L.; Stamm, Walter E.
In: Journal of Infectious Diseases, Vol. 181, No. 2, 15.03.2000, p. 595-601.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of contraceptive method on the vaginal microbial flora
T2 - A prospective evaluation
AU - Gupta, Kalpana
AU - Hillier, Sharon L.
AU - Hooton, Thomas
AU - Roberts, Pacita L.
AU - Stamm, Walter E.
PY - 2000/3/15
Y1 - 2000/3/15
N2 - A prospective evaluation of 331 university women who were initiating use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), a cervical cap, diaphragm- spermicide, or other spermicidal methods was done to assess the effects of commonly used contraceptive methods on the vaginal flora. Vaginal introital cultures were performed at baseline and then weekly for 1 month. The prevalence of Escherichia coli vaginal colonization and of abnormal vaginal Gram stain scores (Nugent criteria) increased significantly among women using a cervical cap or diaphragm-spermicide but not among women using OCPs. Women with E. coli colonization were significantly more likely to have an abnormal Nugent score and an absence of lactobacilli. In a multivariate model, use of spermicidal contraception in the preceding week was associated with an abnormal Nugent score and with colonization with E. coli, Enterococcus species, and anaerobic gram-negative rods. Thus, spermicidal methods of contraception are associated with alterations of the vaginal micro flora that consequently may predispose women to genitourinary infections.
AB - A prospective evaluation of 331 university women who were initiating use of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), a cervical cap, diaphragm- spermicide, or other spermicidal methods was done to assess the effects of commonly used contraceptive methods on the vaginal flora. Vaginal introital cultures were performed at baseline and then weekly for 1 month. The prevalence of Escherichia coli vaginal colonization and of abnormal vaginal Gram stain scores (Nugent criteria) increased significantly among women using a cervical cap or diaphragm-spermicide but not among women using OCPs. Women with E. coli colonization were significantly more likely to have an abnormal Nugent score and an absence of lactobacilli. In a multivariate model, use of spermicidal contraception in the preceding week was associated with an abnormal Nugent score and with colonization with E. coli, Enterococcus species, and anaerobic gram-negative rods. Thus, spermicidal methods of contraception are associated with alterations of the vaginal micro flora that consequently may predispose women to genitourinary infections.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034048827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034048827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1086/315267
DO - 10.1086/315267
M3 - Article
VL - 181
SP - 595
EP - 601
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
SN - 0022-1899
IS - 2
ER -