Objective: There were only few studies about the characteristic of vaginal pH among contraception user in Indonesia. This study aimed to determine the effect of contraception on vaginal pH among Indonesian women. Method: This study is a cross-sectional study. The target population was Indonesian women aged 15 - 50 years. The samples consisted of 492 people. Based on the method of contraception, subjects were grouped into 4 groups, subjects with combination hormonal contraceptives, progestin only, condoms/IUDs, and subjects with no contraception or sterile. Vaginal acidity (pH) was examined by Dip- Stick (Merck®). Result: The average age was 30.9 ± 8.27. The methods of contraception the subjects used were combination hormonal contraception (18.0%), progestin-only (29.5%), condom/IUDs (5.1%) and no contraception/sterile (47.4%). Most subjects had vaginal pH <5 (65.45%) with an average of 5.0 (3.0 - 10.0). Contraception users had lower vaginal acidity level than those without contraception (combination hormonal 65.2%, progestin-only 72.4%, IUD/condom 76.0%, no contraception/sterile 60.1%). In multivariate analysis, after controlling age and marital status, all types of contraception did not show significant association to vaginal pH. Conclusion: The average pH of the vagina in this study was 5.0 (3.0 to 10.0). There was no significant association between any methods of contraception and vaginal pH. [Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2010; 34-2: 69-72] Keywords: vaginal pH, contraception

SUMMARY

Objective: There were only few studies about the characteristicof vaginal pH among contraception user in Indonesia. This studyaimed to determine the effect of contraception on vaginal pH amongIndonesian women.Method: This study is a cross-sectional study. The target populationwas Indonesian women aged 15 - 50 years. The samples consistedof 492 people. Based on the method of contraception, subjectswere grouped into 4 groups, subjects with combination hormonalcontraceptives, progestin only, condoms/IUDs, and subjects with nocontraception or sterile. Vaginal acidity (pH) was examined by Dip-Stick (Merck®).Result: The average age was 30.9 ± 8.27. The methods of contraceptionthe subjects used were combination hormonal contraception(18.0%), progestin-only (29.5%), condom/IUDs (5.1%) and nocontraception/sterile (47.4%). Most subjects had vaginal pH <5(65.45%) with an average of 5.0 (3.0 - 10.0). Contraception usershad lower vaginal acidity level than those without contraception(combination hormonal 65.2%, progestin-only 72.4%, IUD/condom76.0%, no contraception/sterile 60.1%). In multivariate analysis, aftercontrolling age and marital status, all types of contraception didnot show significant association to vaginal pH.Conclusion: The average pH of the vagina in this study was 5.0(3.0 to 10.0). There was no significant association between anymethods of contraception and vaginal pH.[Indones J Obstet Gynecol 2010; 34-2: 69-72]Keywords: vaginal pH, contraception