Effect of Menstrual Cycle and Different Age on Vaginal Microflora of Healthy Women

Abstract

The composition of vaginal microflora of forty healthy women whose ages ranged from 20 to 50 years (menstrual cycle: estrogenic phase, 15 persons; luteal phase, 25 persons) was anaerobically and aerobically determined . The total numbers in the vaginal specimens obtained from all the subjects were approximately 109 CFU/g of vaginal secretions. Numbers of anaerobic bacteria in the vaginal specimens were higher than those of aerobic bacteria . Lactobacilli were the predominant microorganisms in the vaginal specimens . The numbers of bacteroides , streptococci, and Gardnerella vaginalis, and incidences of staphylococci and peptostreptococci were increased with aging whereas the numbers of lactobacilli decreased with aging .