Seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among infertile couples in Assiut

ABSTRACT

The association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and female and male infertility is scarcely studied in Egypt. Goal of this study immunoglobulin G antibody in the sera of infertile women and men were measured, as an indicator of past Chlamydial infection. 200 women [144 infertile and 56 age-matched pregnant controls] and 160 men [104 infertile and 56 age-matched control] were included in the study. Reproductive and sexual history were recorded, and immunoglobulin G antibody to Chlamydia trachomatis was measured. The seroprevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among infertile women was 52% versus 10% in the control group [P < 0.001]. Infertile women with tubal factor had a 60% prevalence. though the difference was not statistically significant. Infertile men were not significantly different from the control group in chlamydial seropositivity [24% vs. 14%]. Risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection [early sexual experience, multiple lifetime sexual partners. age under 20 years, being an STD contact, history of therapeutic abortion, previous pelvic inflammatory disease] could not be correlated with seropositivity. Clinical examination was not informative in patients tested seropositive for chlamydial infection. The higher prevalence of Chlamydial seropositivity among infertile women points to its association with infertility, possibly due to tubal factor. In men such a relation was not evident and semen abnormalities were not significantly higher among Chlamydial seropsitive cases