Asymptomatic bacteriuria in users of low-dose combined oral contraceptives

ABSTRACT

Objectives To investigate the association between oral contraceptive use and the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in women.

Methods The study was conducted on healthy women of childbearing age who either used low-dose combined oral contraceptives (COCs; cases) or applied the withdrawal method (controls). A positive urine culture with a colony count of more than 10⁵/ml, with the same bacteria on two consecutive specimens, was defined as asymptomatic bacteriuria. Pyuria was defined as the presence of ≥10 leukocytes per mm³ of urine.

Results Overall, 369 women in the COC group and 364 in the control group were evaluated. The mean ages of women in the COC group and of controls were 29.9 ± 5.4 years and 30.4 ± 6.0 years, respectively (p = 0.280). Asymptomatic bacteriuria was detected in 2.4% of COC users and 1.9% of the controls (p = 0.633). Pyuria was found in 16% of the cases and 18.1% of the controls (p = 0.441). None of these differences was statistically significant. There was no significant association between duration of COC usage (< 1 year vs. ≥ 1 year) and asymptomatic bacteriuria.

Conclusion Use of low-dose COCs (even long-term) does not increase the risk of asymptomatic bacteriuria.

KEYWORDS:

• Oral contraceptive
• Asymptomatic bacteriuria
• Pyuria
• Urinary tract infection

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to Dr Hossein Nassaji for editorial assistance with the preparation of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.