A comparative evaluation of vaginal, cervical and peritoneal flora in normal, healthy women: a preliminary report

Twelve healthy women undergoing laparoscopic tubal sterilization were studied. Specimens were obtained for culture of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Chlamydia trachomatis. The sites cultured included cul-de-sac (through a laparoscope), cul-de-sac (by transvaginal culdocentesis), the vaginal wall, and the endocervical canal. Anaerobic bacteria were isolated from the peritoneal cavity of three (25%) of the subjects. These isolates included B. melaninogenicus from two specimens obtained by laparoscope from the peritoneal cavity and from two peritoneal specimens obtained by culdocentesis. The data suggest that the peritoneal cavity of normal healthy women is not always sterile. We did not encounter contamination of transvaginal culdocentesis specimens with vaginal flora.