RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Risk factors associated with pelvic inflammatory disease
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 452
OP 457
DO 10.1136/sti.2005.019539
VO 82
IS 6
A1 I Simms
A1 J M Stephenson
A1 H Mallinson
A1 R W Peeling
A1 K Thomas
A1 R Gokhale
A1 P A Rogers
A1 P Hay
A1 P Oakeshott
A1 J Hopwood
A1 H Birley
A1 M Hernon
YR 2006
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/82/6/452.abstract
AB Objective: To investigate factors associated with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Methods: A case–control study was used to investigate demographic and behavioural factors, and causative agents associated with PID. Results: A total of 381 participants were recruited: 140 patients, and 105 and 136 controls in tubal ligation and general practice groups, respectively. When compared with a PID-free tubal ligation control group, increased risk of PID was associated with: age <25 years; age at first sexual intercourse <20 years; non-white ethnicity; not having had children; a self-reported history of a sexually transmitted disease; and exposure to Chlamydia trachomatis. When compared with a general practice control group, increased risk was associated with: age <25 years; age at first sexual intercourse <15 years; lower socioeconomic status; being single; adverse pregnancy outcome; a self-reported history of a sexually transmitted disease; and exposure to C trachomatis. Of the cases, 64% were not associated with any of the infectious agents measured in this study (idiopathic). Conclusions: A high proportion of cases were idiopathic. PID control strategies, which currently focus on chlamydial screening, have to be reviewed so that they can prevent all cases of PID. Behavioural change is a key factor in the primary prevention of PID, and potential modifiable risk factors were associated with PID.