Title: Correlation between serum antichlamydial antibodies and tubal factor as a cause of infertility.

POPLINE Document Number: 018222

Author(s):

Jones RB
Ardery BR
Hui SL
Cleary RE

Source citation:

Fertility and Sterility, 1982 Nov;38(5):553-8.

Abstract:

Although salpingitis frequently produces tubal damage and infertility, many women with tubal factor as a cause of their infertility do not have a clinical history of salpingitis. In order to investigate whether or not some such cases might be due to subclinical chlamydial infections, we measured antichlamydial antibodies in the serum of 172 women consecutively undergoing infertility evaluation. Only 16 (9.3%) had a prior history of salpingitis. 61 (35%) had antichlamydial antibodies (S+) and of these, 75% had tubal factor as a sole or contributing cause of their infertility, vs 28% of the seronegative (S-) women (chi square=34, P<0.001). There was no association between chlamydial seropositivity and any infertility factor other than tubal factor in multivariant analyses. Subclinical infections with Chlamydia trachomatis may be a major cause of tubal infertility in the US, and chlamydia serologic studies may be useful in identifying that subset of infertile women likely to have tubal factor. (author's modified)

Keywords:

Infertility
Antibodies
Fallopian Tubes
Incidence
Analysis
Complications
Statistical Regression
Age Factors
Marital Status
Employment Status
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Pregnancy, Ectopic
Abortion, Spontaneous
Endometrial Effects
Ovulation
Blacks
Whites
Reproduction
Immunologic Factors
Immunity
Immune System
Physiology
Biology
Genitalia, Female
Genitalia
Urogenital System
Measurement
Research Methodology
Diseases
Data Analysis
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Nuptiality
Socioeconomic Status
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Reproductive Tract Infections
Infections
Pregnancy Complications
Endometrium
Uterus
Ethnic Groups
Cultural Background