Evaluation of the effects of a female condom on the female lower genital tract

Soper, David E.; Brockwell, Nancy J.; Dalton, Harry P.

doi:10.1016/0010-7824(91)90103-m

Cited by 39 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…in IUD users, as well as a borderline significantly increased risk of C. trachomatis and T. vaginalis , perhaps due to the low occurrence of STDs in the population studied here. Spermicide and/or inconsistent condom use were independent risk factors for Gram‐positive bacteria that may be due to changes in the vaginal flora [38]. It was observed that the higher the number of lifetime sexual partners, the higher was the risk of acquiring STDs, BV and/or U. urealyticum .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaginal and endocervical microorganisms in symptomatic and asymptomatic non-pregnant females: risk factors and rates of occurrence

Tibaldi

Cappello

Latino

et al. 2009

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Physiological or non-physiological factors may affect the vaginal flora. The occurrence of genital microorganisms in non-pregnant females of all ages was studied, as were the risk factors associated with each microorganism. A retrospective analysis of vaginal and endocervical cultures and wet smears from 27,172 non-pregnant women, between 1996 to 2005, was performed taking into consideration clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. No microorganisms were observed in 55.7% of the individuals studied and 44.3% had positive cultures. There was no microbiological aetiology in 49% of women with genital symptoms. Poor hygiene, chemical irritants, sexual behaviour, vaginal blood, birth control type, and/or the lack of an oestrogen effect may have caused the symptoms. The highest occurrence of Gram-negative bacteria (p<0.01), mainly Escherichia coli, was observed in prepubescent girls. The highest occurrence of Candida species (p<0.01) was in women of childbearing age, and of Gram-positive bacteria (p<0.01) in menopausal women. Adolescents, particularly asymptomatic girls, carried more frequently Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chlamydia trachomatis (p<0.01). Hormonal contraception and consistent condom use was protective against bacterial vaginosis and U. urealyticum colonization. Users of intrauterine devices had an increased risk of bacterial vaginosis or of contracting U. urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and Candida species. Genital complaints were an independent indicator of Candida species, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, Trichomonas vaginalis and bacterial vaginosis.Chlamydia trachomatis infections were often asymptomatic. It is concluded that the hormonal milieu and non-physiological factors are major determinants of the vaginal flora. If diagnosis of genital infections is based on symptoms alone and not on culture results, it may be erroneous. Sexual abuse should be investigated when a child presents with a sexually transmitted disease.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vaginal and endocervical microorganisms in symptomatic and asymptomatic non-pregnant females: risk factors and rates of occurrence

Tibaldi

Cappello

Latino

et al. 2009

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The effects of specific contraceptive methods on the vaginal flora, particularly those involving spermicide use, are not clear. Whereas some studies have shown a significant decrease in the prevalence of vaginal lactobacilli among diaphragm-spermicide users [6,8] or among spermicide users alone [9-11], others have found no such effect [12,13]. The effects of other birth control methods, such as oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and the cervical cap, on the vaginal microbial ecology are even less well delineated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Effects of Contraceptive Method on the Vaginal Microbial Flora: A Prospective Evaluation

et al. 2000

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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 microflora that consequently may predispose women to genitourinary infections.

show abstract

“…Because the female condom covers both the internal and external genitalia, it provides greater protection against STDs. Clinical studies have established that the female condom is impermeable to HIV (Drew et al 1989, Voeller 1991 or cytomegalovirus (Drew et al 1989), and provides signi®cantly lower risk of bacterial and/or viral infections (Bounds 1989, Soper et al 1991, Soper et al 1993). In addition, because the female condom is made of polyurethane, which is 40% stronger than a male latex condom, it has less risk of rupture than the male condom (Gollub and Stein 1993, Bounds et al 1988, Bounds 1989, Leeper and Conrardy 1989, Farr et al 1994.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The acceptability of the female condom among US women at high risk from HIV

Harrison

Bachman

Freeman

et al. 2001

Culture, Health & Sexuality

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines the acceptability of the Reality TM female condom among a population of women in the US exhibiting a high prevalence of risk factors for infection with the human immunode®ciency virus (HIV). The female condom was introduced to incarcerated women via a 20 hour didactic health and HIV education course. The 246 course graduates were interviewed before they started the course (baseline), and at 2, 6, 12 and 16 months post-release. This paper reports on the baseline and two month follow-up data to focus on the women's initial experiences with the female condom. None of the respondents reported ever using a female condom at baseline, but 62% had used one within two months of release from incarceration. Virtually all used it during vaginal sex, with 68% trying it with their husband/ boyfriend and 36% trying it with a friend. Overall, 23% report using a female condom and 27% report using a male condom every time they had vaginal sex, so fully half of the respondents reported always using a condom at the 2 month follow-up interview. These data show the women increased their condom use, both male and female, between baseline and the 2 month follow-up.

show abstract

Evaluation of the effects of a female condom on the female lower genital tract

Cited by 39 publications

References 9 publications

Vaginal and endocervical microorganisms in symptomatic and asymptomatic non-pregnant females: risk factors and rates of occurrence

Vaginal and endocervical microorganisms in symptomatic and asymptomatic non-pregnant females: risk factors and rates of occurrence

Effects of Contraceptive Method on the Vaginal Microbial Flora: A Prospective Evaluation

The acceptability of the female condom among US women at high risk from HIV

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About