R.I. GABIDULLINA¹, R.R. BAGIRLI¹, A.M. SHARAPOVA², E.I. GALIMYANOVA¹, E.R. MINGALEVA¹, D.M. ALIEVA¹

¹Kazan State Medical University, Kazan

²Volga region Center for Oncodiagnostics, Kazan

Contact details:

Gabidullina R.I. ― MD, Professor of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology named after Prof. V.S. Gruzdev

Address: 49 Butlerov Str., Kazan, Russian Federation, 420012, e-mail: ru.gabidullina@yandex.ru

 Objective ― to study the impact of the flexible prolonged regime of combined oral contraception (COC) on the vaginal medium and the level of sex hormones in women of reproductive age.

Material and methods. The study involved 54 women needing contraception, aged from 18 to 45 years. The average age was 27.5±6.8 years. Before and after 6 months of using COC, the state of vagina was determined by the purity of vaginal smear, moisture level, acidity (pH), and the condition of the vaginal microbiota, as well as the level of sex hormones in blood.

Results. After 6 months of using COC in flexible prolonged regime, normal flora with predominance of lactobacilli was determined; there was a significant increase in vaginal acidity without change of moisture level. Against the background of COC using, a significant decrease in the level of estradiol, free testosterone and the index of free androgens, and an increase in the level of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were revealed. A statistically significant correlation between vaginal acidity, the level of estradiol, free testosterone and the index of free androgens, and a negative correlation with the level of SHBG were revealed. The level of estradiol significantly influenced the moisture level of vagina.

Conclusion. Using the flexible prolonged regime of COC during 6 months contributes to the dominance of lactobacilli in the vagotype, increasing the acidity of vagina against the background of a decrease in the levels of estradiol and free testosterone.

Key words: combined oral contraceptives, vaginal medium, vaginal microbiota, lactobacilli.

(For citation: Gabidullina R.I., Bagirli R.R., Sharapova A.M., Galimyanova E.I., Mingaleva E.R., Alieva D.M. Impact of prolonged regime of combined oral contraceptives on vaginal medium. Practical medicine. 2019. Vol. 17, № 4, P. 77-80)

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