ABSTRACT
Aim: At the beginning of 2020, the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged in China. While there are several studies currently being performed to investigate the multi-organ symptoms of COVID-19 infection, significant attention has yet to be paid to its presence in the cervix. This article aims to establish a medical hypothesis of its association with HPV infection as well as the potential impact of COVID-19 infection on the female genital tract. Material(s) and Method(s): This prospective cohort study was performed in ... Research and Training Hospital between January 1 and July 30, 2020. Cervicovaginal samples (co-test) were taken at the gynecological oncology unit, and both HPV screening and Pap smear were studied with the liquid-based method. Two groups of patients who were confirmed by PCR test to have had COVID-19 infection in the last 6 months and patients who did not have a history of infection were included in the study. Result(s): A total of 310 participants were evaluated in the study. Of these participants, 30 (9.7%) were confirmed to have undergone COVID-19 by PCR test. There was no significant difference between the total positive smear results in both groups. However, the rate of HPV-16 positive patients was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (2.5% vs 10.0%, p=0.027). Discussion(s): As a result, COVID-19 infection may increase the frequency of HPV-16. Apart from this, it can be said that this increase is not reflected in the frequency of cervical cytopathology.Copyright © 2022, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are increasing in the United States. Because most infections are asymptomatic, screening is key to preventing complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility and decreasing community and vertical neonatal transmission. All sexually active people with a cervix who are younger than 25 years and older people with a cervix who have risk factors should be screened annually for chlamydial and gonococcal infections. Sexually active men who have sex with men should be screened at least annually. Physicians should obtain a sexual history free from assumptions about sex partners or practices. Acceptable specimen types for testing include vaginal, endocervical, rectal, pharyngeal, and urethral swabs, and first-stream urine samples. Uncomplicated gonococcal infection should be treated with a single 500-mg dose of intramuscular ceftriaxone in people weighing less than 331 lb (150 kg). Preferred chlamydia treatment is a seven-day course of doxycycline, 100 mg taken by mouth twice per day. All nonpregnant people should be tested for reinfection approximately three months after treatment or at the first visit in the 12 months after treatment. Pregnant patients diagnosed with chlamydia or gonorrhea should have a test of cure four weeks after treatment.