CERVICAL BUT NOT URINARY-EXCRETION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IS RELATED TO SEXUAL-ACTIVITY AND CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICES IN SEXUALLY ACTIVE WOMEN

The relationship between sexual activity and genitourinary excretion o f cytomegalovirus (CMV) was evaluated in 1481 women at a sexually tran smitted disease (STD) clinic, Among 951 who were CMV-seropositive, 16. 6% had CMV isolated, from cervix alone in 9.4%, urine alone in 3.8%, a nd both sites in 4.2%, Isolation rates were highest in young women (P <.001), Compared with those with only cervical infection, women sheddi ng from both cervix and urine were younger, began sexual activity when younger, had more recent partners, and a higher frequency of CMV-spec ific IgM, suggesting recent CMV infection. By logistic regression, cer vical CMV excretion was associated with concomitant gonococcal infecti on (P =.008) and was less frequent in those using barrier contraceptio n (P =.036), Isolated urinary excretion of CMV was not associated with sexual activity, concomitant cervical infections, or use of contracep tion. Cervical CMV infection is related to sexual activity, acquisitio n of other STDs, or exogenous reinfection, and urinary CMV is not.