STERILITY OF THE UTERINE CAVITY

In a prospective open study the sterility of the uterine cavity was ev aluated in 99 women admitted for hysterectomy. The indications for hys terectomy were in most cases persistent irregular vaginal bleeding and fibromyomas of the uterus. Samples for both aerobic and anaerobic bac teria, Chlamydia trachomatis, yeasts and viruses were taken preoperati vely from the apex of the vagina and cervical os. Immediately after hy sterectomy the uterus was opened under sterile conditions and samples obtained from the isthmus and fundus of the uterine cavity for microbi ological examination. Wet smears were taken from the same sites.Nearly a quarter of all the patients harbored one or more microorganisms in the uterus, mostly Gardnerella vaginalis, Enterobacter and Streptococc us agalactiae. We found that in a significant number of cases, the ute rine cavity is colonized with potentially pathogenic organisms which m ay play a causative role in endometritis. The results indicate that in flammation of the uterine cavity should be evaluated by hysteroscopic examination before hysterectomy is undertaken in patients with persist ent irregular vaginal bleeding.