Abstract

CONTRACEPTION AND RISK OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS

*Stefan Kovachev

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between bacterial vaginosis and the used contraceptive method. Methods: In our casecontrol, single-center study 1450 women used different contraceptive methods with gynecological vulvo-vaginal complaints were included, where the clinical and microbiological studies indicated presence or absence of bacterial vaginosis, other vaginal infections or normal vaginal flora. The used contraceptive method was determined anamnestically. Results: Of 1450 (100%) women enrolled in our study 500 (34.4%) women drop out for different reasons and only 995 (68.6%) were included in. From these 995 (100%) included women: 107 (10.7%) used intrauterine devices (IUD), 343 (34.5%) combined oral contraception (COC), 10 (1%) spermicides and 535 (53.8%) condoms. Bacterial vaginosis was determined clinically and microbiologically in 591 (59.4%) women enrolled in the study, and 404 (19.6%) had normal vaginal flora. There was a statistically significant relationship only between the use of IUD, condoms and the development of bacterial vaginosis (p ≤ 0.05). The remaining contraceptive methods used by women in our study did not indicate such a relationship (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: The use of а IUD and condoms can be regarded as a risk factor for disorders of the microbiological balance in the vaginal ecosystem and can lead to the development of bacterial vaginosis. The remaining contraceptive methods used by women in our study did not reveal statistically significant relation to the development of bacterial vaginosis.

Keywords: contraception; bacterial vaginosis; combined oral contraceptivies; intrauterine devices; condoms.