CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS IN INFERTILE GREEK WOMEN - A SEROLOGIC AND LAPAROSCOPIC STUDY

This study investigates the prevalence of antichlamydial antibodies in infertile women, who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of damage of the fallopian tubes. Antichlamydial IgG antibodies were found in 22 of 27 (81.5%) infertile women with damaged fallopian tubes and 10 of 23 (43.5%) women with normal tubes. Mean geometric IgG titres for C. trachomatis were significantly higher in the patients with damaged tubes (187.4 vs. 39.39). C. trachomatis was not isolated from the peritoneal fluids. Only two chlamydial cultures of cervical specimens were positive, one in each group. These findings confirm that C trachomatis may be a major cause of tubal damage with resultant infertility.