DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN ASYMPTOMATIC WOMEN - RELATIONSHIP TO HISTORY, CONTRACEPTION, AND CERVICITIS

The presence of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen was examined in 400 endo cervical samples collected from an equal number of asymptomatic sexual ly active women. The overall prevalence was found to be 4%, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Chlamydia infection was correlated with younger age (5.8%, p<0.05), a history of pelvic inflammatory dise ase (30%, p<0.0001), and more than four lifetime sexual partners (7.9% , p<0.01). Women who used oral contraception had more infections (9.7% ), than did women who used the intrauterine contraceptive device (4.8% , p>0.05), condom (0%, p<0.01) or no contraception (3.1%, p<0.05). Inf ection was strongly associated with cervical erythema (8.2%, p<0.0001) , ectopy (7%, p<0.05), friability (20%, p<0.0001), and endocervical di scharge (100%, p<0.0001). These results support the view that Chlamydi a trachomatis infection is associated with younger age, intense sexual life, and use of oral contraceptives. Given that the majority of infe cted women revealed cervical pathology, the detection of chlamydia in the high-risk female population with cervical changes seems to be esse ntial.