The effects of spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 on cervical cytology

This analysis was undertaken to compare the effect of the different dosages and formulations of spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 (N-9) on cervical cytology.

A randomized trial was conducted at 14 sites in the United States to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of five spermicides containing N-9. This Papanicolaou smear analysis included the data from all participants who provided two Papanicolaou smear samples: at admission and after discontinuation of the product. The effects of the spermicides were evaluated by comparing the rates of alteration of cervical cytology between five study groups.

A total of 640 women were included in this analysis. The majority of the study participants (>85%) had no change of their baseline Papanicolaou smear result. The rates of alteration of cervical cytology were similar among women using the three gels containing the different doses of N-9 and three different formulations containing the same dose of N-9. Our analysis found no association between alteration of cervical cytology and duration or frequency of use of the five study spermicides.

Exposure to different formulations and doses of spermicides containing N-9 is unlikely to influence cervical cytology.