Cervical bacterial flora in infertile and pregnant women

The cervical bacterial flora in early pregnancy, labour, and infertility was assessed qualitatively. The cervix harboured several types of bacteria in both pregnant and infertile women. In the latter group, however, fewer species were found. The incidence of a mixed aerobic and anaerobic flora differed significantly between patient categories as did the frequency with which only aerobic isolates were obtained. There was also a significant difference between patient groups with regard to the incidence of anaerobic isolates. Among the anaerobic bacteria, peptostreptococci and bacteroides species were the dominating ones whereas coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most prevalent aerobic bacteria. Lactobacilli constituted 29--44% of the anaerobic bacteria found in the pregnant cervix and 52% of those found in the infertile cervix. The distribution of different aerobes as well as anaerobes was similar in pregnant and infertile patients.