Studies of introital colonization in women with recurrent urinary infections. III. Vaginal glycogen concentrations.

The concentration of glycogen in vaginal fluid was measured in 37 samples from 6 volunteers without urinary infections and in 96 samples from 12 patients with recurrent urinary infections. The mean glycogen concentrations, 440 mug. per ml. from the controls and 564 mug. per ml. from the patients, were not statistically different (p more than 0.05). Although an introital pH more than or equal to 4.4 was associated with low concentrations of glycogen in vaginal fluid, a pH less than 4.4 was found with high and low glycogen concentration. Sodium concentration was statistically higher in vaginal fluid from patients compared to controls (p less than 0.01) while potassium concentration was the same in both groups.