Characteristics of the vaginal smears in the postpartum period

Among the large number of red blood cells and white blood cells are found navicular, the core of which are eccentrically, They have an oblong shape or pyknotic. Besides, in the days following birth smears appear a large number of parabasal cells, somewhat different from the usual. These cells are round or oval, with eccentrically located nucleus, their edges are bent and attached cells views saucers. They are called postpartnymi cells. Sometimes the cytoplasm of these cells has a foamy appearance and fuzzy outlines, smears revealed histiocytes.

Erythrocytes and leukocytes disappear in the first weeks after birth, postpartnye cells and converted into ordinary parabasal, smears occurring in large quantities in the lactation. Then there are the superficial cells (basophilic first, and then eosinophilic).