Genital tuberculosis in women. Analysis of 187 newly diagnosed cases from 47 Swedish hospitals during the ten-year period 1968 to 1977.

A retrospective analysis of symptomatology, diagnostic procedures, and treatment of all 155 new cases of genital tuberculosis at 47 Swedish gynecology departments in the period 1968-77 was performed. The frequency of genital tuberculosis was 0.002% of all patients admitted for gynecologic disease. Genital tuberculosis occurred more frequently in the postmenopausal period. The most common symptoms were metorrhagia, pain, and infertility. Chemotherapy alone was used in 40% of the cases. Conservative surgery was attempted in 8%, and 38% had radical surgery. No intrauterine and four tubal pregnancies occurred after therapy. We conclude that primary treatment should be conservative, although the chances of having a normal pregnancy are almost nil and the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is great.