PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ocak, Sabahattin
AU  - Cetin, Meryem
AU  - Hakverdi, Sibel
AU  - Dolapcioglu, Kenan
AU  - Gungoren, Arif
AU  - Hakverdi, Ali U.
TI  - Effects of intrauterine device and oral contraceptive on vaginal flora and epithelium
DP  - 2007 May 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 727--731
VI  - 28
IP  - 5
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/5/727.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/5/727.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2007 May 01; 28
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To investigate the microbial and cytopathological changes and genital symptoms in oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) users.METHODS: Included in the study were 34 women using OCP and 34 women using IUCD for 24 to 36 months period and 34 women as control group. We conducted the study between March to September 2005 in Antakya Maternity Hospital, Turkey. Vaginal discharge was subjected to wet mount examination, gram staining, and culture. Cervical smears were examined and reported using the Bethesda system as reference.RESULTS: In the IUCD group, women with intermediate score was 20.6%, while those with bacterial vaginosis was 11.7%. In the OCP group however, women with intermediate score was 8.8%, while those with bacterial vaginosis was 5.9%. Compared to the control group, these rates were 2.9% for those with intermediate score and 2.9% for those with bacterial vaginosis. Escherichia coli vaginal colonization increased by 5-fold in the IUCD users (p<0.05). Cervical erosion was found in 14.7% of the women using IUCD as compared to the other groups (p<0.05). Actinomyces like organisms was detected in 11.7% of the IUCD users (p<0.05).CONCLUSION: The use of IUCD clearly alter the normal vaginal flora, although OCP appears to have minimal effects on the vaginal microbial flora. The data support the hypothesis that IUCD might change cervico vaginal environment, and suggests that women with IUCD may be at a higher risk for vulvovaginal infection.