The role of mycoplasmas in the upper genital tract of women

Sex Transm Dis. 1983 Oct-Dec;10(4 Suppl):281-4.

Abstract

Mycoplasma hominis is isolated from the cervix of 10-20% of healthy, fertile women. In contrast, the organism is recovered from the lower genital tract of 50-70% of women with pelvic inflammatory disease. Moreover, a significant antibody response to M. hominis is found in one-fourth of all patients with clinical and/or laparoscopic signs of pelvic inflammatory disease. These results suggest that M. hominis is etiologically involved in inflammation in approximately 25% of patients with acute pelvic inflammatory disease and in approximately 40% of women from whose cervix the organism is isolated.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
  • Endometritis / diagnosis
  • Endometritis / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mycoplasma / immunology
  • Mycoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Mycoplasma / pathogenicity*
  • Mycoplasma Infections / microbiology*
  • Salpingitis / diagnosis
  • Salpingitis / microbiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial