Study of the role of cervical chilamydia infection in unexplained ingertility and mucopuruluent cervicitis

ABSTRACT

Objectives to analyse the prevalence of cervical chlamydia infection in women with unexplained infertility [VI] and its share among other aetiological factors; and in patients with mucopuruluent cervicitis [MPC] and its, place among other microorganisms correlated with it. Subjects and methods- the incidence of cervical chlamydia infection was studied, by collecting endocervical specimens and detecting chlamydial antigens using direct immunofluorescent antibody [IFA] test among three groups of cases a group diagnosed to have UI [60 women], a group with MPC [20 women], and a control group [32 asymptomatic fertile women]. Cases found to have cervical chlamydia infection were treated with doxycyline and followed up after two weeks in MPC for evidence of cure and after 6 months in UI for evidence of pregnancy. Results- about 33% of women with UI were found to have cervical chlamydia infection. The corresponding precentage were 60% and 12.5% respectively in MPC and control cases. Yellow and red cervical swab tests had 83% and increased polymorphnuclear leucocytes [PMNS] in endocervical swabs had 67% positive prediction for cervical chlamydia infection in cases with MPC. Results of treating cases with UI having cervical clamydia infection were encourging and for cases with MPC results were satisfactory. Conclusions-the study indicates that cervical chlamydia infection is a common and a significant finding in cases with UI and MPC, thus it should be considered while investigating these cases. Treatment of C. trachomatis infection on presumptive grounds, based on finding positive cervical swab test and increased PMNS on gram stain, is recommended as these methods are available and found in this study to have a reasonable positive prediction