THE CERVICOVAGINAL EPITHELIUM DURING 20 CYCLES USE OF A COMBINED CONTRACEPTIVE VAGINAL RING

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a combined contr aceptive vaginal ring (CCVR) made of Silastic(R) on the cervico-vagina l epithelium during 20 cycles of use, A total of 76 volunteers used th e CCVR releasing 0.120 mg etonogestrel and 0.015 mg ethinyloestradiol daily, Cytological samples were taken of the vaginal epithelium, the e ctocervix and the endocervix before the start, at 4 and 12 months, and ht the end of the study, Cytology, hormonal profiles, human papilloma virus (HPV) status, DNA-flow cytometry, bacterial flora, and morphome try was performed on these samples, Colposcopy and histopathology of b iopsy specimens were performed at the end, No cytological changes of t he squamous epithelium or the columnar epithelium were found, HPV was detected in three samples of three different women, At least two of th em reverted to HPV negative during the rest of the study period, Aneup loidy was diagnosed in II women before the study, Seven of them change d to diploid during the study, No changes from diploid to aneuploid we re seen, Aneuploidy was not seen in any of the HPV positive samples, A lthough bacterial flora showed considerable variation during the study , no significant influence of the CCVR could be established, Morphomet rical analysis showed an increasing nucleus:cytoplasm ratio of the squ amous cells during the study, Mild dysplasia was detected in one woman at the end of the study, It was concluded that no unfavourable cytolo gical or bacteriological changes of the cervico-vaginal epithelium wer e demonstrated during 20 cycles of CCVR use, The vaginal epithelium be came more progestogenic during the study.