PREVALENCE OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND VAGINAL FLORA CHANGES IN PERI- AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Dr. Juhee Harit; Dr Razia Sultan; Dr P. K. Roy

Volume : VII, Issue : II, February - 2018

PREVALENCE OF BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS AND VAGINAL FLORA CHANGES IN PERI- AND POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Dr. Juhee Harit, Dr Razia Sultan, Dr P. K. Roy

Abstract :

Objectives To study colonization of bacteria in vagina and perianal region in elderly women and correlation of colonization in vaginal region as well as possible variations with hormone levels.

Methodology A total of 147 smears from women aged 40 to 79 years were examined. Women were classified as follows: fertile (regular cycles) (n = 32), perimenopausal (irregular cycles) (n = 23), and postmenopausal (n = 92), including 33 women on estroprogestinic hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

Results The prevalences of bacterial vaginosis (assessed as a Nugent score of ≥7) in fertile (9.8%) and perimenopausal (11.0%) women were not statistically different, whereas the prevalence was significantly lower overall in postmenopausal women (6.0%) (P = 0.02). Specifically, 6.3% of postmenopausal women without HRT and 5.4% of postmenopausal women with HRT were positive for bacterial vaginosis

Conclusion. The Nugent score system was not adequate for evaluating the normal and intermediate vaginal flora in women over the age of 40 years. High numbers of peri– and postmenopausal women had no lactobacilli and no bacterial–vaginosis–associated microorganisms.