CYTOLOGICAL DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT GYNAECOLOGICAL DISEASES

Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and is associated with gynecological disorders like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility and habitual abortion. The present study was carried out in 85 women who had complaints of symptoms like PID, infertility and habitual abortion. These women were recruited from the Gynaecology OPD of GSVM Medical College, Kanpur between January 2008 to September 2009. Both routine Pap smear examination and Chlamydial antigen detection test was performed in the sample collected from the cervix. Chlamydia was detected in 22 of the 85 cases (25.8%). Inflammatory changes were commonly associated with Chlamydia (77.2%) while squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) of cervix was seen in 22.8% of cases. The Chlamydia was very common in the younger sexually active group of 21- 30 years and was associated with PID in 30.7% of cases, with infertility in 21.0% and with habitual abortion in 14.2% of cases. Routine cytological screening is needed in all symptomatic women especially those complaining of pain in lower abdomen and vaginal discharge and also asymptomatic women to detect Chlamydia to facilitate their timely treatment.