Cervical gonorrhea in women using different methods of contraception
Keith, L.; Berer, G.S.; Moss, W.
Journal of the American Venereal Disease Association 3(1): 17-19
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-148X PMID: 1010762 Document Number: 432310
More than 2000 women attending a family planning clinic in Louisiana were screened for gonorrhea. Controlling for race and age, patients using oral contraceptives or IUDs had higher rates of cervical gonorrhea than users of barrier methods of contraception, e.g., condoms, diaphragms, or foam. These statistically significant differences among users of different contraceptive methods did not hold true for rates of rectal or oral infection. It is possible that medical methods may alter naturally occurring vaginal protective mechanisms in some way. Since this was not an experimental setting, it is also possible that the choice of contraceptive method was related in some way to specific sexual practices. Since the use of barrier methods of contraception seems to be associated with lower rates of cervical gonorrhea, their use by selected patients might be recommended.