STUDY OF ACTINOMYCES IN IUD USERS IN SRINAGARIND HOSPITAL

Abstract

Abstract

Background : The most common temporary contraception is intrauterine device (IUD) in Thai women. Actinomyces infection is commonly found in cervical smear from women using an IUD, who have an increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Objective : to determine the factors associated with the presence of Actinomyces infection and compare the prevalence rate of women with and without IUD users.

Subject and Method : Cervical smears from 234 users of IUD attending family planning clinics and from a randomly selected control group of 229 women from out patient clinic in Srinagarind Hospital were stained by Papanicolaou method and were screened for Actinomyces infection. Follow up was done after 6 months, one year, one and a half year.

Result : The prevalence rate in IUD users was 17.1%. The rate of Actinomyces infection was significantly higher in IUD users for more than two years (p=0.013). No significant association of Actinomyces infection with the type of IUD and age were found. The percentage of women reporting gynecologic symptoms also did not differ significantly between IUD users with and without Actinomyces infection on Papanicolaou smear.

Conclusion : The result has shown that the duration of using IUD but not types of IUD is associated with Actinomyces infection.