Sexually transmitted diseases and gynecologic symptoms and signs in women with a history of induced abortion.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate associations between a history of induced abortion and current or previous sexually transmitted diseases and other gynecologic infections.


METHODS
A cohort study was performed at two family planning clinics and one youth clinic. Of 996 women, 192 (19.3%) admitted a history of induced abortion, whereas the remaining 804 women served as a control group. A structured, personal interview which included details on previous genital infections and gynecologic symptoms and a gynecologic examination was performed. Genital chlamydial infection, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, cervical human papillomavirus infection, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and bacteria associated with bacterial vaginosis were diagnosed.


RESULTS
Both a history of genital infections, with the exception of vulvovaginal candidiasis, and current genital symptoms were more common in women with a history of induced abortion, compared with the control group. Age-adjusted odds ratios ranged from 1.5 (history of genital warts, 95% confidence interval (95% CI 0.9-2.5) to 5.0 (history of gonorrhea, 95% CI 2.6-9.7). Odds ratios for current bacterial vaginosis was 1.9 (95% CI 1.2-2.9) and for vulvovaginal candidiasis 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-2.7).


CONCLUSIONS
Women attending a clinic for an induced abortion could be a target group for sexually transmitted disease information programs.
Hellberg
D
D
Department of Obstetrics, Falun Hospital, Sweden. dan.hellberg@itdalarna.se
Mogilevkina
I
I
Mårdh
P A
PA
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000209:etiology