John R. Evrard

Vaginal colonization with mycoplasma hominis and ureaplasma urealyticum.

Vaginal cultures obtained from unselected young women who consulted the gynecologist in a student health service were examined for Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Each participant completed a confidential questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine which variables, of a large number ascertained, were associated with mycoplasmal colonization. U. urealyticum was isolated from 273 (56.8%) of 481 participants. The following variables were significantly predictive of colonization with U. urealyticum: black race, absence of antibiotic use, cigarette smoking, and number of sexual partners during the last year. Lifetime number of sexual partners was significantly predictive only in women who used nonbarrier methods of contraception. M. hominis was isolated from 85 (17.7%) of the 481 participants. Independent variables that were significantly predictive of colonization with M. hominis included black race, young age, and, for users of nonbarrier methods of contraception, lifetime number of sexual partners.

Sexually transmitted conditions among women college students

We studied 500 unselected young women who consulted a gynecologist in a student health service. Most participants were symptom-free and had normal physical examinations. Few sexually transmitted infections were encountered. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was recovered from two and Trichomonas vaginalis was obtained from 14 of 500 women. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered from 20 (4.6%) of 439 participants. Genital warts, genital herpes, and molluscum contagiosum, respectively, were noted in seven, four, and one of the 500 participants. There was no cases of syphilis, scabies, or pediculosis pubis. Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum, respectively, were recovered from 17.6 and 56.8% of the subjects. Prevalent vaginal bacteria included lactobacilli, streptococci, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and diphtheroids. Gardnerella vaginalis was isolated from the vaginal specimens of about one third of the participants.

Amenorrhea following oral contraception

A prospective study was done on 326 nulliparous women who ceased oral contraception. Follow-up was obtained on 311. The mean age was 20.3 years (S.D. 2.5). Eighty-nine per cent began menstruating within 60 days after stopping therapy, and only 7 took 180 days or longer to menstruate. Late menarche strongly correlated with post-pill amenorrhea (PPA), but continous length of time on oral contraceptives and type of oral contraceptive showed no significant relationship. The incidence of PPA was 2.2 per cent. All women did eventually menstruate spontaneously, the longest period of amenorrhea being 540 days.

Rape: The medical, social, and legal implications

Abstract The term “rape” is equated with violence and crime. An attending physician is immediately involved in assessing the patients injuries and gathering evidence. Optimum handling of the situation demands more than this. If the gynecologist considers the ramifications of his role before need arises, he can develop a positive, systematic approach to care which offers more complete present and future therapy to the patient as well as an accurate appraisal of the legal picture.

The impact of abortion on maternal and perinatal mortality rates

Abstract Divergent moral, medical, and legal aspects of abortion have been rather thoroughly expressed. Stripping these attitudes from abortion, if this is possible, another aspect of the subject demands exploration. The influence of abortion on maternal and perinatal mortality rates has been and will be considerable, though unpredictable at present. Legal abortion can at the same time both contribute to and decrease maternal and perinatal mortality. Migration of women seeking abortions from states with more rigid abortion laws to those with more liberalized ones is influential in changing these rates. Factors operating on maternal and perinatal mortality rates are considered.

Rubella immunity testing and immunization of college women: An ongoing program at Brown University

Abstract Rubella hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers were determined on 1,141 Brown University women of which 74.7 per cent were immune. Two hundred and twelve susceptible women were immunized with Cendehill or HPV-77 vaccines. One hundred and fifty-eight had repeat HI titers 6 to 10 weeks after immunization and the seroconversion rate was 87 per cent. Of the 20 nonseroconverters, 12 were reimmunized with a conversion rate of 90 per cent. Three per cent of the vaccines developed mild arthralgia, none requiring treatment. No pregnancies were encountered in the vaccinees during the 12 weeks post vaccination. A testing and rubella immunization program for college women appears to present an ideal opportunity of providing immunologic protection before marriage and childbearing.