Visual analysis of vaginal cell binding and retention of a gynecological douche

Abstract

Aim: Gynecological douches may contain various molecules that need to cover and be retained by cutaneous and mucosal cells if they are to act efficaciously in treating local conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of directly visualising the ability of a commercial medical gynecological douche to bind to, and be retained by human vaginal cells.

Methods: The commercial gynecological douche under study was "Saugella Attiva douche", bought at local chemist. The vaginal epithelial cells were obtained from healthy, non-pregnant, regularly menstruating women aged 24-52 years. The cells were obtained from the mucosal surface of the mid-vaginal wall by means of gentle scraping with a sterile spatula. Ferric oxide particles and Escherichia coli were used as inorganic and organic markers in order to visualize the adherence of the transparent thin film of a gynecological douche to human vaginal cells by means of Nomarski interference contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Results: Both markers made it possible to clearly visualize the binding and retention of the transparent thin layer of the douche also at the dilution 1:2 and 1:4.

Conclusions: The fact that the douche can be locally retained is useful because its formulation contains thymol and eugenol, which are known to have antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant effects but need a period of contact before they act fully.