Prophylaxis with lymecycline in induced first-trimester abortion: a clinical, controlled trial assessing the role of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis.

A clinical, controlled trial was performed to study the effect of prophylaxis with lymecycline and the role of Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma hominis in postabortal genital infection. Of 532 women who were to undergo first-trimester abortion, 269 were randomized to treatment with oral lymecycline (300 mg bid) starting 2 days before the abortion and continuing for a total of 7 days, and 263 were randomized to placebo treatment. The rate of postabortal infection was 9.3% in the antibiotic group and 9.5% in the placebo group, an insignificant difference (P greater than .8). The presence of C. trachomatis in the cervix/urethra at the time of abortion showed a significant association with the occurrence of postabortal infection (P less than .005), but there was no correlation between the effect of treatment and the presence of infection (P greater than .4). The presence of M. hominis, a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, maternal age, gestational age, the number of births, spontaneous and induced abortion, and the Hegar number showed no significant association with postabortal infection (all P values greater than .05). It is recommended that women who are to undergo induced abortion be examined for the presence of C. trachomatis and treated, as they constitute a risk group.