Estudio comparativo entre las características citológicas de los epitelios nasal, faríngeo y vaginal en mujeres adultas jóvenes

objective: to determine and compare the cytological characteristics of nasal, pharyngeal and vaginal epitheliums in young adult women. methods: a prospective and transversal study of 35 non pregnant women of 18 to 35 years old during the period january 1, 2004 - november 2004; some on contraceptives pills, were studied by analysis of smear of nasal, pharyngeal and vaginal trough maturation index of exfoliated cells and serum level of estrogen and progesterone. setting: department of obstetrics and gynecology, hospital chiquinquira, maracaibo, estado zulia. venezuela. result: it was established that exists a good correlation between the superficial and intermediate cells in the different phases of the menstrual cycle and those who received oral contraceptives and the group that did not. is established that there are correlation between the cells when compared vaginal-pharynx and vaginal-nose, in both groups. the serum levels of estrogen and progesterone were accorded to the cycle phases and with the percentage of cells in both, medicated and non medicated patients. conclusion: ours results demonstrate that the nasal and pharyngeal epitheliums respond to ovarian hormones, similar to what occurs in the vagina. it is recommended to use this method in those patients where it is need to investigate the endocrine status and where it is difficult to reach the vagina: nubile girls, vaginal agenesis, imperforate hymen; or where there is not a endocrine laboratory near.