Seroevidence of Chlamydia trachomatis antibody in infertile women in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (Ubth) Benin City, Nigeria

The role of Chlamydia trachomatis in the pathogenesis of Pelvic inflammatory disease and majority of cases of salpinigitis are well acknowledged in women. A total of 213 sera from infertile women were tested for antibodies to Chlamydia trachomatis by using an indirect solid phases enzyme Immuno absorbent commercial ELISA test. Women with confirmed Hysterosalpinographic report suggesting tubal occlusion (tubal factor infertility) had 92 (43.2%) followed by 63 (29.6%) infertile women with infertile male partner and 58 (27.2%) were having unexplained infertility. Out of the tubal factor (TF) infertile women 40 (18.8%) were seropositive for Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies, as against 19 (8.9%) in the group of women with normal patent tubes and 10 (4.6%) women with infertile male partner. In this study there was a statistical significant correlation between the infertile women with tubal factor infertility in relation to seroevidence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection with p<0.05. There was no age bias in the serodetection of Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies. The seropositivity of Chlamydia trachomatis is an indication that the organism may be an independent risk factor in the development of an inflammatory process leading to scaring of the uterine tubes in women and thereby causing infertility.