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Pelvic inflammatory disease, intrauterine contraception, and the conduct of epidemiologic studies

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Advances in Contraception

Abstract

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has been described in the medical literature for more than a century as a specific entity.Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, andMycoplasma hominis, along withBacteroides fragilis and other anaerobic bacteria, have been most frequently associated with PID. Factors affecting the occurrence of PID have been extensively studied during the past two decades and include number of sexual partners, age, race, socioeconomic status, education, and contraceptive method. As knowledge concerning factors that contribute to PID increases, epidemiologic studies addressing such issues must become increasingly sophisticated, and the literature needs to be re-evaluated in light of present knowledge. Various risk factors for PID, types of epidemiologic studies, methods for conducting such studies, and data interpretation are reviewed.

Resumé

Il y a plus d'un siècle que la salpingite aiguë est décrite comme une entité spécifique dans la littérature médicale. Elle est généralement due àNeisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis etMycoplasma hominis, ainsi qu'àBacteroides fragilis et à d'autres bactéries anaérobies. Des études approfondies ont été conduites au cours des 2 dernières décennies, à propos des facteurs favorisant les salpingites: il s'agit notamment du nombre de partenaires sexuels, de l'âge, de la race, du niveau socio-économique, de l'éducation et des méthodes contraceptives. Plus notre connaissance des facteurs favorisant les salpingites s'améliore, et plus les études épidémiologiques concernant ces questions doivent être sophistiquées. En outre, il convient de revoir la littérature à la lumière des connaissances actuelles. On décrit divers facteurs de risque de salpingite, les types d'études épidémiologiques, les méthodes adoptées pour conduire ces études et l'interprétation de leurs résultats.

Resumen

La enfermedad inflamatoria pelviana (PID) ha sido descripta en la literatura médica durante mas de un siglo como una entidad separada.Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, yMycoplasma hominis, junto conBacteroides fragilis y otras bacterias anaerobias, han sido mas frecuentemente asociadas con la inflamación pelviana. Durante las 2 últimas decadas se han estudiado extensamente los factores que afectan la ocurrencia de la inflamación pelviana e incluyen el número de contactos sexuales, edad, raza, nivel socioeconómico, educación y métodos contraceptivos. Como el conocimiento concerniente a factores que contribuyen a la inflamación pelviana está en aumento, los estudios epidemiológicos referentes a tales, deben volverse progresivamente más sofisticados y la literature necesita ser reevaluada a la luz de los conocimientos actuales. Se consideran varios factores de riesgo para la inflamación pelviana, tipos de estudios epidemiológicos, méthodos para conducir tales estudios e interpretación de datos.

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Struthers, B.J. Pelvic inflammatory disease, intrauterine contraception, and the conduct of epidemiologic studies. Adv Contracept 1, 63–76 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01849145

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