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Is endometrial infection with Candida albicans a cause of recurrent vaginal thrush?
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminister Hospital, London, UK.
Objective:
It was hypothesised that the endometrium might act as a reservoir for candida, thus infecting the vagina as the endometrium is shed during menstruation.
Design:
A prospective study of women with recurrent vulvo-vaginal candidiasis. The endometrium was sampled and cultured for candida species.
Setting:
Central London STD clinic.
Subjects:
26 women were enrolled, of whom 20 completed the study.
Results:
One patient had a positive endometrial culture for candida species, the isolate being Candida krusei.
Conclusions:
The endometrium is not a common resevoir for candida species and therefore, infection at this site is an unlikely cause of recurrent vaginal candidiasis.