Investigation of vaginal microbiota in sexually active women using hormonal contraceptives in Pakistan

A prospective study in woman population of Khairpur Sindh Pakistan aged 20–30 years and 31–40 years, using Hormonal contraceptives was carried out. High vaginal swab samples (n？=？100) were collected from the test populations as well as control group (n？=？100) and investigated for vaginal microbial flora using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques.Vaginal swabs culturing from hormonal contraceptives users in the age group 20–30 years showed statistically insignificant Candida sp (10% samples), and statistically significant (p？<？0.05) Staphylococcus saprophyticus. (18% samples), Streptococcus agalactiae (23% samples), Escherichia coli (28% samples) and Lactobacillus fermentum (32% samples). In the age group 31–40 years, statistically significant percentage of samples (p？<？0.05) showed Lactobacillus fermentum (28%), Candida sp (24%), and E. coli, (24%) where statistically insignificant samples showed Staphylococcus saprophyticus (13%) and Streptococcus agalactiae (11%).The use of hormonal contraceptives alters the normal microbiota of vagina in women according to the age. Lactobacillus fermentum appeared as the predominant species followed by E. coli among the age group of 20–30 years and, Lactobacillus fermentum, Candida sp and E. coli as predominant among women of age group 31–40 years when compared to corresponding control groups. An inverse relationship between E. coli and Lactobacillus fermentum was observed in the women aged 20–30 years.Hormonal contraception (HC) mentions to birth control methods that act on the endocrine system.Previous studies identified urinary tract infection (UTI) as a complication of contraceptive use [1,2]. Around 17 million women per year in the United States suffer UTI and costs billions to the economy [3]. Methods of contraception have suffered a set back in improving the health of women because of concerns in many countries about the mechanism and side effects of the contraceptives [4]. As the population is growing most