Objective: Advantage of the use the cervicovaginal cytodiagnostic according to the Bethesda terminology in the gravidity and in the care after delivery was studied. Design: Cervicovaginal smears of pregnant women were investigated in all parameters requested by the Bethesda system. Microbial parameters were compared with the data of non-pregnant women as given by Bibbo. Setting: Cytological Laboratory of the Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of the Charles Univer- sity 1st Faculty of Medicine and of the General Faculty Hospital, Apolinářská 18, Praha 2 and Charles University 1st Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Histochemistry, Albertov 4, Praha 2.Material and Methods: Cervicovaginal smears were prepared by the cytobrush technique in 100 pregnant women, fixed immediately in isopropanol and stained by polychrome Papanicolaou method. Slides were evaluated according to the requirements of the Bethesda system. Results: In smears of pregnant women no malignity was found. 27% women suffered from mycotic infections (Candidosis) (Bibbo gives for the non-gravid population 3,6%), Gardnerella was found in 8% cases (Bibbo gives for non-pregnant women 21%), trichomoniasis in 5% (in Bibbo’s group in 15%). In 2% changes indicating the presence of Papilloma virus, Chlamydia occurred in 2% of. Conclusion: Pathogens found in smears (e.g. Chlamydia and Gardnerella) cause inflammation both in the mother and child and lead to premature delivery. A detailed cytological examination as required by the Bethesda system is thus also a help for perinatology because it allows a preven- tive treatment.

        Key words: Bethesda system, perinatology