Sexual experience, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases among young women at a contraceptive clinic

All visitors who during one year visited a contraceptive clinic in the Solna district of Stockholm County and were below the age of 26 were asked to fill in a questionnaire and offered a test for C. trachomatis. Three hundred and six women (97%) participated. Ninety percent had at some time used oral contraceptives and 91% had experience of condom use. One-fifth of the whole group had undergone one or more legal abortions, and one fourth had experience of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The most common STD experienced was chlamydia, followed by condyloma. The actual prevalence of chlamydia in the group was 6%. Sexual contacts were often made early in on-going steady relations. Forty-two percent admitted casual sex, but the number of life-time partners was five or less among the majority.