Chlamydia trachomatis and its relationship with tubal infertility in sexually active women; Chlamydia trachomatis y su relación con la infertilidad de causa tubaria en mujeres sexualmente activas

Abstract

Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is the main bacterial pathogen widely associated with tubal infertility. Objectives: To determine the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal infertility in sexually active women treated at the Human Reproduction Service, Dos de Mayo National Hospital, Lima, Peru and to highlight their sociodemographic and sexual behavior characteristics. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was designed in sexually active women between 18 and 49 years of age, who had pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic pain, cervicitis, dyspareunia, vaginal discharge, and painful urination. Sixty-seven women formed the sample, and those who had surgical tubal blockage, or were undergoing treatment during the previous four weeks, were excluded. Chlamydia trachomatis IgM was used by 4th generation ELISA. Results: The sixty-seven women studied had an average age of 34 ± 8 years, where the most represented age group was 31 to 40 years (35.8%), 24 women (35.8%) were married and 30 (44.7%) got higher university education. Sixteen women (23.8%) had primary infertility and 12 (17.9%) had secondary infertility. Tubal damage was present in 21 women (31.3%), and 12 of them (17.9%) had bilateral tubal occlusion. Out of the 31 women with pelvic inflammatory disease, 19 (61.2%) had Chlamydia trachomatis infection, which showed a relationship between both pathologies. Anti-Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies were positive in 30 patients (44.8%), 9 of which (13.5%) had tubal occlusion. No association was found between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal infertility. Conclusions: This study did not determine the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and tubal infertility with bilateral occlusion, nor with some significant risk determinants such as history of pelvic inflammatory disease. © 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.