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Signs and symptoms of urethritis and cervicitis among women with or without Mycoplasma genitalium or Chlamydia trachomatis infection
  1. L Falk1,
  2. H Fredlund2,
  3. J S Jensen3
  1. 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
  2. 2Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
  3. 3Mycoplasma Laboratory, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
  1. Correspondence to:
 Lars Falk
 Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital, Örebro, SE -701 85 Örebro, Sweden; lars.falkorebroll.se

Abstract

Objectives: To study the prevalence, symptoms, and signs of Mycoplasma genitalium and Chlamydia trachomatis infections in women attending a Swedish STD clinic, accessible for both sexes, and in a group of young women called in the cervical cancer screening programme.

Methods: A cross sectional study among female STD clinic attendees in Örebro and a study among women called for Papanicolaou smear screening. Attendees were examined for urethritis and cervicitis. First void urine and endocervical samples were tested for M genitalium and C trachomatis.

Results: The prevalence of C trachomatis and M genitalium in the STD clinic population was 10% (45/465) and 6% (26/461), respectively. Dual infection was diagnosed in four women. In the cancer screening group of women the corresponding prevalence was 2% (1/59) and 0%, respectively. Among the STD clinic attendees there were no significant differences in symptoms (32% v 23%, RR 1.4, 95% CI 0.6 to 3.4) or signs (71% v 50%, RR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.3) between C trachomatis and M genitalium infections. Microscopic signs of cervicitis were significantly more common among M genitalium and C trachomatis infected women than in the cancer screening group of women. 56% (15/27) of male partners of M genitalium infected women were infected with M genitalium compared to 59% of male partners of C trachomatis infected women who were infected with C trachomatis (p = 0.80).

Conclusions:M genitalium is a common infection associated with cervicitis and with a high prevalence of infected sexual partners supporting its role as a cause of sexually transmitted infection.

  • FVU, first void urine
  • HPF, high power field
  • NCNGU, non-chlamydial non-gonococcal urethritis
  • NGU, non-gonococcal urethritis
  • NSI, non-specific inflammation
  • PCR, polymerase chain reaction
  • PMNL, polymorphonuclear leucocytes
  • STI, sexually transmitted infections
  • sexually transmitted infections
  • Mycoplasma
  • Chlamydia
  • prevalence
  • women

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Footnotes

  • Funded by the Research Committee of Örebro County Council, Örebro Medical Centre Research Foundation. The research ethics committee of Örebro County Council approved the first part of the study 1 November 1999 and the second part of the study 27 August 2002.

  • Conflict of interest: none declared.