Risk factors for plasma cell endometritis among women with cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae, cervical Chlamydia trachomatis, or bacterial vaginosis.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine potential risk factors for upper genital tract inflammation in women with cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, or bacterial vaginosis.


METHODS
In a case-controlled study we compared 111 women with cervical Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, or bacterial vaginosis (the study group) with 24 women who had negative tests for each of these infections (the control group). We evaluated potential risk factors for upper genital tract inflammation by use of bivariate and then logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
We found plasma cell endometritis in 53 of 111 women in the study group and 3 of 24 controls (odds ratio = 6.4, 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 35.0). On logistic regression, the study group women who were in the proliferative phase had increased likelihood of plasma cell endometritis (odds ratio = 4.5, 95% confidence interval 1.6 to 12.4).


CONCLUSIONS
The proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle seems to be the primary risk factor for ascending infection by organisms associated with pelvic inflammatory disease. This may be due to a hormonal effect or to the loss of the cervical barrier during menstruation.
Korn
A P
AP
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, USA.
Hessol
N A
NA
Padian
N S
NS
Bolan
G A
GA
Donegan
E
E
Landers
D V
DV
Schachter
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004716:Endometritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006069:Gonorrhea / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D008875:Middle Aged; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010950:Plasma Cells; D012307:Risk Factors; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D016585:Vaginosis, Bacterial