TY - JOUR T1 - Sexually transmitted diseases and Chlamydia trachomatis in women consulting for contraception. JF - The Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners JO - J R Coll Gen Pract SP - 418 LP - 420 VL - 39 IS - 327 AU - D Avonts AU - M Sercu AU - P Heyerick AU - I Vandermeeren AU - P Piot Y1 - 1989/10/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/39/327/418.abstract N2 - To study the frequency of genital infections in women consulting their family doctor for contraception, 248 women (median age 23 years) were examined for a range of genital microorganisms. The prevalence of clue cells, Candida albicans and Trichomonas vaginalis were 21.0%, 12.9% and 2.0%, respectively. Neisseria gonorrhoeae was isolated in only one case, whereas Chlamydia trachomatis was found in 6.3% of women. A specific clinical picture for an infection with C. trachomatis in women was not seen. Given the prevalence of over 5% for C. trachomatis and the absence of typical signs and symptoms in infected women, screening for this organism is recommended in women requesting an intrauterine contraceptive device, to prevent complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and their sequelae. ER -