title: Microbiological profile of the cervix in 1,000 sexually active women.
abstract: One thousand consecutive women who attended the Richmond Family Planning Association Clinic and who were to undergo a vaginal examination were asked to participate in a large prospective microbiological study. Participants were questioned about their sexual activity during the previous 12 months and any apparent signs of sexually transmitted disease. On examination the cervix was inspected for evidence of inflammation, ectopy or discharge and cervical swabs were taken microbiological assessment. Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated in 5.1% of women tested while Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were found in 48.8% and 16.4% of women respectively. Significant associations were found between the number of sexual partners during the previous 12 months and the incidence of all 3 organisms. The carriage rate of the genital mycoplasmas was significantly affected by the type of contraception. In addition the association between the presence of the genital mycoplasmas and pelvic and cervical abnormalities was determined.
authors.affiliation: Family Planning Association of Victoria, Richmond.
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westcott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rusden
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Asche
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Hall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006194:Gardnerella vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014509:Ureaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002577:Uterine Cervical Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014626:Vaginal Smears