Gardnerella vaginalis vaginitis in Cu T 200 users

Vaginal samples obtained from intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) users with and without vaginitis and from healthy non-users were studied for presence of G. vaginalis and cytological changes. Vaginitis was present in 29.5 per cent IUD users and most of them (76%) yielded G. vaginalis. G. vaginalis was also recovered from asymptomatic IUD users and from non-users, but heavy colonisation was infrequent. The presence of clue cells and many small Gram negative bacilli and scanty lactobacilli were associated with G. vaginalis recovery. Inflammation was more frequent in IUD users than in non-users (P less than 0.001). A significant correlation was also found between inflammatory changes and G. vaginalis colonisation among all groups of patients.