[Lower genital tract infection with chlamydia trachomatis in women requesting induced abortion.]

Postoperative pelvic infection is a serious complication of induced abortion, and may occur in 2-6% of cases. A study of the prevalence and distribution by age and marital status of cervical Chlamydia infection in 1991-93 in women seeking termination of pregnancy is in progress. The data for 1993 are presented and compared to results from a previous study. There were 686 women requesting termination of pregnancy in 1993. Of those 636 had induced abortion by suction evacuation, 11 aborted spontaneously, three were not pregnant, two were refused termination of pregnancy and 34 women withdrew their request. Of those who had the operation, 633 (92.3%) had samples taken and 48 were Chlamydia trachomatis positive (7.6%). The reduction from the previous study was significant where 13.5% of the women were Chlamydia positive. The Chlamydia positive women were also younger and more often single than those who were negative. It has been shown that if Chlamydia positive women are treated the incidence of later endometritis and salpingitis is not higher than among those that are negative. This emphasizes the importance of screening and treating Chlamydia positive women requesting termination of pregnancy.