Significance of leucocytes in smears taken from the female urethral meatus.

A prospective study of 86 women attending the clinic for the first time showed that nine patients had more than 10 leucocytes per highpower microscope field (HPF) in smears taken from the urethral meatus, even though six of them had micturated less than two hours before examination. Six of these patients had urethral gonorrhoea, one had trichomoniasis, and two were contacts of men with non-specific urethritis. It is concluded that women with more than 10 leucocytes per HPF of urethral secretion at their first visit and in whom a diagnosis has not been made, should strongly be urged to return for further assessment.