Pelvic examination leads to changed clinical management in very few women diagnosed with asymptomatic chlamydia infection

The present study aimed to determine whether pelvic examinations change clinical management of women with asymptomatic chlamydia infection. Records for women with asymptomatic chlamydia who underwent a pelvic examination at a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia (January 2006 to June 2007) were analysed retrospectively. Of 91 cases, 31 (34%) warranted examination; one woman (1%; 95% confidence interval: 0.5%, 6.4%) had muco-purulent cervicitis and mild tenderness, and was treated for possible pelvic inflammatory disease. These data suggest that a pelvic examination will lead to changes in treatment for very few women diagnosed with asymptomatic chlamydia infection.