Actinomyces-like organisms in the cervical Papanicolaou-stained smears of intrauterine device (IUD) users

The prevalence of Actinomyces-like organisms in cervicovaginal smears of 2,347 Brazilian women, including 151 (6.4%) intrauterine devices (IUD) users for at least six months and as controls 2,196 (93.6%) non-wearers of similar age using hormonal, barrier, or other contraceptive methods or none, living in Salvador, Bahia, has been investigated. Cervical smears were stained by the Papanicolaou method for the microscopic examination of Actinomyces-like organisms. The relationship between Actinomyces-like organisms infection and contraceptive methods, age and number of sexual partners has been analyzed. The result showed that the overall detection rate of Actinomyces-like organisms in 2,347 women was 0.17%. The detection rates in IUD users and non-users were 1.32% and 0.09% respectively. The prevalence rate (1.32/0.09) was of 14.7, indicating a risk fourteen times greater for the presence of Actinomyces-like organisms in cervical smears of IUD users. No contraceptive methods were used by 43% of the patients. Most patients were between 21 and 30 years old, having 3-5 sexual partners.