Frequency of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis antibodiesin infertile women referred to Al-Zahra hospital inTabriz

Background: Infertility is one of the major issues in society and its incidence isestimated to be almost 10-15%.. Chlamydia is an important cause of sexuallytransmitted diseases leading to infertility.Objective: This study was designed to determine the frequency of anti-Chlamydiatrachomatis (anti-C. trachomatis) antibodies in infertile women at Alzahra hospital,Tabriz, Iran.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the blood samples werecollected randomly from 184 infertile women (case group) and 100 pregnant women(control group).the frequency of specific IgG and IgM anti-Chlamydia trachomatisantibodies were evaluated using ELISA.Results: The frequency of anti-C. trachomatis IgG in pregnant and infertile womenwas 18% and 35.88%, respectively. The frequency of anti- C. trachomatis IgM inpregnant and infertile women was 2% and 5.44%.Our results showed the significanthigh rate of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis IgG (p=0.035), IgM (p=0.004) (p<0.05) ininfertile women. Also, no significant relation was seen in the frequency of antibodybetween urban and rural women, IgG (p=0.690), IgM (p=0.486). The highestprevalence of positive cases was seen among the 21-30 years of age groups. Therewas not a significant relationship between age of infertile women and the amount ofanti-Chlamydia trachomatis antibody, IgG (p=0.437), IgM (p=0.132). There was nosignificant relationship between tubal factor infertility and the frequency of anti C.trachomatis antibodies, IgG (p=0.208), IgM (p=0.082) (p> 0.05).Conclusion: According to the high frequency of antibody anti-C. trachomatisamong infertile women in competition to the control group, evaluation and treatmentof Chlamydia infections is necessary in these patients

Keywords:

Chlamydia trachomatis , Infertile women , Tabriz