[The endometrial bacterial flora following insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device]

Abstract

Bacteriological cultures of material collected on the cervix uteri and endometrium of 75 controls, 150 women using an intrauterine contraceptive device and 20 women who had undergone abdominal hysterectomy, have been studied by the authors. Positive cultures were found in all three groups of women. The difference in percentage of positive cultures in users and non-users of intrauterine contraceptive devices was not significant and this has lead the authors to conclude that the intrauterine contraceptive device does not alter endometrial flora, unless it is left in situ for a period exceeding two years and during the first two weeks of the cycle. In this study, the cultures made on the material collected on hysterectomy specimens of patients that had never used intrauterine contraceptive devices yielded the lowest percentage of positive cultures.