Association ofChlamydia trachomatis with tubal infertility

Summary  A study was undertaken to determine whether the positive correlation betweenChlamydia trachomatis antibodies and tubal infertility, noted by workers in other countries, also applied to infertile women in Northern Ireland. Ninety-one infertile women and 106 fertile controls were tested for current cervical infection withC. trachomatis and for evidence of past chlamydial infection. The incidence ofC. trachomatis infection of the cervix was 5.8% in the infertile group and 2.8% in the control group. The prevalence ofC. trachomatis antibody was 22% in the infertile group and 18.9% in the control group. Previous termination of pregnancy, history of sexually transmitted disease and number of sexual partners were identified as risk factors for seropositivity and tubal disease. We concluded that it would be of value to screen women attending the infertility clinic forC. trachomatis infection of the cervix, and that testing these patients for Chlamydia antibodies may also be useful in planning further investigation.