Influence of contraception on basic vaginal states: a prospective study

SONIA FOSCH; YONES C; TROSSERO M; GROSSO O; BEATRIZ PERAZZI

Health

Health Scientific Research An Academic Publisher

Año: 2015 vol. 7 p. 238 - 244

1949-4998

To evaluate the influence of contraceptive methods on the basic vaginal states (BVSs) in women infertile age, 108 women consulting for birth control (14 - 45 years) were included in a prospectivestudy. The vaginal content was sampled both before they began using the chosen contraceptivemethod (see below) and three months later, and then analyzed using the Balance of Vaginal Content(BAVACO) methodology. Five BVSs were defined: 1) normal microbiota; 2) normal microbiotawith vaginal inflammatory reaction (VIR); 3) intermediate microbiota; 4) bacterial vaginosis and 5)non-specific microbial vaginitis. The following contraceptive methods were considered: combinedoral contraceptive pill (COCP), intrauterine device (IUD), condom (CON), the rhythm method(RHYT) and simultaneous double protection (COCP + CON). The McNemar statistical test was used.COCP (n = 71): 20 samples retained normal BVSs and two were altered; nine out of the 49 alteredsamples returned to normal; IUD (n = 4): two samples modified their normal BVS to III and IV; CON(n = 25): the VIR increased in 20% of the samples; RHYT (n = 6): four samples retained the normalBVS; and COCP + CON (n = 2): samples preserved their initial BVS (II). The increased frequency ofBVS I in the COCP group was significant (x2 = 3.3; p = 0.04). The relative frequency of each BVS wassignificantly modified, attributed to the type of contraceptive method used. The intake of hormonescorrects alterations and retains a normal BVS. The contraceptive methods that use an externalfactor of local contact either maintain or alter the microbiota and VIR.