Frequency of Infectious Agents for Vaginitis in Non- and Hysterectomized Women

The frequency of infectious agents for vaginitis has shown varying results. Bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis are infections related to vaginal pH alteration. Vaginal pH is related to endocervical pH in pre- and post-menopaused women, and vaginal pH in hysterectomized women is more acidic than in non-hysterectomized women. The aim of this paper is to verify differences in Papanicolaou smear diagnoses of infectious agents in hysterectomized women. A retrospective study was conducted at Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro (public tertiary referral centre). A total of 1,579 Papanicolaou reports for each group (hysterectomized and non-hysterectomized) was analysed. Clue cells, Candida sp., Trichomonas vaginalis, cytolysis, coccobacilli and lactobacilli were diagnosed by cytological criteria (Papanicolaou's method), statistical methods: the chi2 test and linear regression (significance level < 0.05). Clue cells decrease with the age in both the groups and are more frequent in non-hysterectomized women with > 59 years. There is an increased frequency of Coccobacilli and a decrease of lactobacillus as the age of women increases. The frequency of T. vaginalis is not influenced by hysterectomy but there is a decreased frequency between 40 years and 49 years old. Cytolysis was more frequent in women below 40 years old and between 50 years and 59 years old in both groups (P < 0.009). Candida sp. is a less common finding between 40 years and 49 years old in both groups and more frequent in hysterectomized women with > 60 years old (P = 0.002). Our results showed that the presence of infectious agents for vaginitis in Papanicolaou findings is associated with age. The frequency of finding of Candida sp. in women above 60 years old may be influenced by hysterectomy.