Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Association ofChlamydia trachomatis with tubal infertility

  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Westrom. L. Incidence, prevalence and trends of acutepelvic inflammatory disease and its consequences in industrial countries. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1980: 138, 880–892.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Brunham, R. C, Binns, B., Guijon, F., Danforth, D., Kosseim, M. L., Rand, F., McDowell, J., Rayner, E. Etiology and outcome of acute pelvic inflammatory disease. J. Infect. Dis. 1988: 158, 510–517.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Jones, R.B., Ardery, B.R., Hui, S.L.,Cleary, R.E. Correlation between serum antichlamydial antibodies and tubal factor as a cause of infertility. Fertil. Steril. 1982: 38, 553–558.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Moore, D. E., Foy, H. M., Daling, J. R., Grayston, J. T., Spadoni, L. R., Wang, S.-P., Kuo, C.-C, Eschenbach, D. A. Increased frequency of serum antibodies toChlamydia trachomatis in infertility due to tubal disease. Lancet 1982: ii, 574–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kelver, M. E., Nagamani, M. Chlamydial serology in women with tubal infertility. Int. J. Fertil. 1989: 34, 42–45.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Punnonen, R., Terho, P., Nikkanen, V., Meurman, O. Chlamydial serology in infertile women by immunofluo-resence. Fertil. Steril. 1979: 31, 656–659.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Osser, S., Persson, K., Liedolm, P. Tubal infertility and silent chlamydial Salpingitis. Hum. Reprod. 1989: 4, 280–284.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kane, J. L., Woodland, R. M., Forsey, T., Darougar, S., Elder, M. G. Evidence of chlamydial infection in infertile women with and without fallopian tube obstruction. Fertil. Steril. 1984: 42, 843–848.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Conway, D., Glazener, C. M. A., Caul, E. O., Hodgson, J., Hull, M. G. R., Clarke, S. K. R., Stirrat, G. M., Chlamydial serology in fertile and infertile women. Lancet 1984: i, 191–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Reniers, J., Collet, M., Frost Leclerc, A., Ivanoff, B., Meheus, A. Chlamydial antibodies and tubal infertility. Int. J. Epidemiology 1982: 18, 261–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Smith, J. R., Murdoch, J., Carrington, D.et al. Prevalence ofChlamydia trachomatis infection in women having servical smear tests. Br. Med. J. 1991: 302, 82–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Stamm, W. E., Harrison, H. R., Alexander, R., Cles, L. D., Spence, M. R., Quinn, T. C. Diagnosis ofChlamydia trachomatis infections by direct immunofluorescence staining of genital secretions. A multicentre trial. Ann. Intern. Med. 1984: 101, 638–641.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chemesky, M. A., Mahony, J. B., Castriciano, S., et al. Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis antigens by enzyme immunoassay and immunofluorescence in genital specimens from symptomatic and asymptomatic men and women. J. Infect. Dis. 1986: 154, 141–148.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Wood, P. L., Hobson, D., Rees, E. Genital infections withChlamydia trachomatis in women attending an antenatal clinic. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 1984: 91, 1171–1176.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Paulson, J. D., Polakoski, K. J. Isolation of spermatozoal immobilisation factor fromEscherichia coli filtrates. Fertil. Steril 1977: 28, 182–185.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Suominen, J., Gronroos, M., Terho, P., Wichman, L. Chronic Prostatitis,Chlamydia trachomatis and infertility. Int. J. Androl. 1983: 6, 405–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Shahmanesh, M., Stedroska, J., Hendry, W. F. Antisper-matozoal antibodies in men with Urethritis. Fertil. Steril. 1986: 46, 308–11.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Brunham, R. C, Maclean, I. W., Binns, B., Peeling, R. W.Chlamydia trachomatis: its role in tubal infertility. J. Infect. Dis. 1985: 152, 1275–1282.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Queens University of Belfast,Institute of Clinical Science, Grosvenor Road, BT 12 6BJ, Belfast, Northern Ireland

    R. N. Roberts, A. J. Quinn, W. Thompson & R. B. Beattie

  2. Department of Genito-Urinary Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

    R. D. Maw

  3. Regional Virus Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast

    D. E. Wyatt

Authors
  1. R. N. Roberts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. J. Quinn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. W. Thompson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. D. Maw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. E. Wyatt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. B. Beattie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Roberts, R.N., Quinn, A.J., Thompson, W. et al. Association ofChlamydia trachomatis with tubal infertility. I.J.M.S. 162, 24–26 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02942825

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02942825

Keywords

Search

Navigation