Effect of fluorogesterone acetate impregnated intravaginal sponges¹ on vaginal bacterial flora of ewes

Abstract

The bacterial flora of the vagina of ten ewes was determined at sponge removal and two days later before  insertion of nuorogesterone acetate intravaginal sponge. Using E coli as marker species, there· was a significant increase (P< 0.05) in bactedal population when samples taken before sponge insertion and at ttmoval were compared, but there was a significant (P < 0.01) decrease in bacterial population when samples taken at sponge removal were compared to samples taken two days later. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) when bacterial population before sponge insertion was compared with the bacterial population two days after sponge removal. It is concluded that following use of tluorogesterone acetate intravaginal pessaries (and injection of PMSG at sponge removal), there is increased bacterial growth in the vagina which is largely eliminated two days after sponge removal.

Key words: Fluorogesterone acetate, vagina, sponges, ew.e, ba~terial flora.