Urethral isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis in women with urinary incontinence

The overall prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection in 168 patients with urinary incontinence was 7.7%. However, in patients with urethral instability CT was found significantly more often than in those with stable urethra (P less than 0.001). Clinical and urodynamic improvement followed the treatment with doxycycline in 8 out of 9 patients with urethral instability. According to our results urethral infection with CT may play an important role in the etiology of urge incontinence and urethral instability.