Table 1.
Demographics, behaviour and clinical characteristics.
Fig 1.
Distribution of analyte concentrations in cervicovaginal lavage samples for 370 healthy visits.
Each data point represents a single sample and the line through data points represents the median concentration. APOA1 and albumin are serum controls and SCCA-1 and involucrin are vaginal epithelial controls.
Table 2.
The proportion of samples with analytes detected, median, mean and intra–class correlation coefficients (ICC) from 370 CVL samples.
Fig 2.
Menstrual cycle phase (n = 102).
A comparison of analyte concentration between samples from visits occurring post-ovulation to pre-ovulation (reference). Menstrual cycle stage was assessed by measurement of urine pregnanediol 3-glucuronide. Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. (A) Analytes with ≥85% detection using linear regression showing coefficients (boxes) and confidence intervals (lines) (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression showing odds ratios (boxes) and confidence intervals (lines).
Fig 3.
Reported hormonal contraceptive use (DMPA, n = 327; and COC, n = 305).
Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. (A) A comparison of analyte concentration ≥85% between samples DMPA and women who reported no hormonal contraception use (reference) using linear regression. (B) A comparison of analyte concentration <85% between samples from women who reported use of DMPA and women who reported no hormonal contraception use (reference) using logistic regression. (C) A comparison of analyte concentration ≥85% between samples from women who reported use of COC and women who reported no hormonal contraception use (reference) using linear regression. (D) A comparison of analyte concentration <85% between samples from women who reported use of COC and women who reported no hormonal contraception use (reference) using logistic regression. Footnotes: 1. The x-axis range is from -1 to +2 which is wider than for all other figures; 2. For the association with DMPA and IL-12, odds ratios could not be estimated as all DMPA visits had detectable IL-12 levels; 3. For the association with COC use and IgM, odds ratios could not be estimated as all COC visits had detectable IgM levels.
Fig 4.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA, n = 370).
PSA categories: None, low positive (<4 ng/mL), high positive (≥4 ng/mL). Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. (A) Analytes with ≥85% detection using linear regression, linear trend for change in log concentration. (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression, change in odds of analyte detection (if <85% LLOQ) with one unit increase in exposure category.
Fig 5.
Traditional intravaginal practices (intravaginal cleansing with cloth, n = 155; and intravaginal insertion, n = 145).
Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. (A) A comparison of analyte concentration ≥85% between samples from women who reported intravaginal cleansing with cloth and women who reported no intravaginal cleansing use or intravaginal cleansing with water alone (reference) using linear regression. (B) A comparison of analyte concentration <85% between samples from women who reported intravaginal cleansing with cloth and women who reported no intravaginal cleansing use or intravaginal cleansing with water alone (reference) using logistic regression. (C) A comparison of analyte concentration ≥85% between samples from women who reported intravaginal insertion and women who reported no intravaginal insertion (reference) using linear regression. (D) A comparison of analyte concentration <85% between samples from women who reported intravaginal insertion and women who reported no intravaginal insertion (reference) using logistic regression.
Fig 6.
Clinical cervical ectopy (n = 67).
Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. A comparison of analyte concentration between samples among women with cervical ectopy and women without ectopy (reference). (A) Analytes with >85% detection using linear regression; (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression.
Fig 7.
Colposcopy examination (n = 67).
Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. A comparison of analyte concentration between samples among women with colposocopic findings and women without colposcopic findings (reference). (A) Analytes with >85% detection using linear regression; (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression. Footnote: 1. The x-axis range is from -15.0 to +10.0 which is wider than for all other figures.
Fig 8.
Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. Vaginal pH was measured with test strips during the clinical examination: 3.6–4.1 (normal pH); 4.4–4.7 (high normal pH); and 5.0 and above (abnormal pH). (A) For analytes with >85% detection using linear regression, linear trend for change in log concentration. (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression, change in odds of analyte detection with one unit increase in exposure category.
Fig 9.
White blood cells (WBCs; neutrophils, n = 361; lymphocytes, n = 361).
WBCs from the CVL cell pellet were identified and enumerated. For the statistical analysis, lymphocytes were either present or absent, and neutrophil were categorized as follows: no cells, 1–10 cells, 11–50 cells, >50 cells. Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. (A) For analytes with >85% detection using linear regression, linear trend for change in log concentration in neutrophils. (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression, change in odds of analyte detection with one unit increase in neutrophil category. (C) A comparison of analyte concentration >85% between samples with presence of lymphocytes and samples with absent lymphocytes (reference) using linear regression. (D) A comparison of analyte concentration >85% between samples with presence of lymphocytes and samples with absent lymphocytes (reference) using logistic regression.
Fig 10.
Haemoglobin was measured by Hemostix test strips in the CVLs, categories were none, low (25 erythrocytes [ery]/μL), moderate (80 ery/μL), high (200 ery/μL). Bolded analytes represent associations with a p-value ≤0.05. (A) For analytes with >85% detection using linear regression, linear trend for change in log concentration. (B) Analytes with <85% detection using logistic regression, change in odds of analyte detection with one unit increase in exposure category.