Studies on the development of a vaginal preparation providing both prophylaxis against venereal disease and other genital infections and contraception. II. Effect in vitro of vaginal contraceptive and non-contraceptive preparations on Treponema pallidum and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

20 vaginal contraceptive preparations and 17 other compounds, mostly vaginal antiseptics, were studied in vitro for their effect on the motility of virulent T. pallidum and were also studied for their bactericidal or bacteriostatic effects on N. gonorrhoeae. Concentrations of several contraceptives and other preparations as low as 10/0 were effective in immobilizing spirochaetes in suspension within 1-1.5 minutes. Similarly, several products inhibited gonococcal growth. These results in vitro are reported. Further studies in vitro and in vivo are in progress to find the preparations which show the greatest potential for topical use in venereal disease prophylaxis and contraception. Commercial sources for the contraceptive and noncontraceptive preparations are given.