Pj. Horner et al., THE ROLE OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN URETHRITIS AND URETHRAL SYMPTOMSIN WOMEN, International journal of STD & AIDS, 6(1), 1995, pp. 31-34
One hundred and fifty women who attended a genitourinary medicine clin
ic and who required a speculum examination were investigated to determ
ine the association between Chlamydia trachomatis and urethral symptom
s and signs. Those who had taken antibiotics with anti-chlamydial acti
vity within 3 months or those who were menstruating, pregnant or using
an intrauterine contraceptive device were excluded. C. trachomatis in
fection of the urethra, or infection of the urethra and cenix together
, combined with each separately, were strongly associated with > = 5 p
olymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes per high-power field (x 1000) in a G
ramstained urethral smear (P < 0.00005 and P < 0.0005, respectively).
This appeared not to arise from leucocyte contamination from the lower
genital tract. However, C. trachomatis infection of the urethra was n
ot associated with symptoms of dysuria or frequency. In conclusion, it
seems likely that C. trachomatis infection of the urethra in women pr
obably causes urethritis which is usually asymptomatic. Women who have
objective evidence of urethritis might best be managed by appropriate
antibiotic therapy and counselling, and advice that partners should a
ttend for review.