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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

A Human Fallopian Tube Model for Investigation of C. trachomatis Infections
Published on: August 11, 2012
Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women with secondary infertility
Abida Malik1, Suchitra Jain, Meher Rizvi
1Department of Microbiology, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India. abidamalik2k@yahoo.com
Objective:
To assess the role of Chlamydia in secondary infertility in a prospective study.
Design:
Forty women with secondary infertility and 30 healthy term pregnant women of similar age composition were studied for past and present Chlamydia trachomatis infection.
Setting:
Women attending the outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with complaint of secondary infertility were enrolled as patients in the study.
Patient(S):
Forty women with secondary infertility formed the study group, and 30 healthy women served as the controls.
Intervention(S):
Chlamydia IgG was detected by ELISA; titers of 1:320 or more were considered positive. Endocervical swabs were collected for culture on cycloheximide-treated McCoy cell lines, and ELISA was used to detect Chlamydia antigen. Hysterosalpingography was performed to assess tubal patency.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
A difference was expected between the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in the infertile study subjects and fertile control group.
Result(S):
Immunoglobulin G antibodies were present in 22 (55%) women with secondary infertility, whereas positivity was seen among 2 (5.5%) controls. Tubal occlusion occurred in 16 (63.6%) cases positive for chlamydial antibody. Sensitivity of chlamydial IgG antibody as a diagnostic marker for infertility was 72.7%, and specificity was 44.4%. The majority of Chlamydia IgG antibody-positive cases, 17 (77.2%), were symptomatic. Unfavorable obstetric history was found in 16 (72.7%) cases. Active infection was found in 12 (30%) cases with one (3.3%) case of current infection occurring in the controls.
Conclusion(S):
Prevalence of past chlamydial infection is strongly statistically significant in women with secondary infertility. Current infection was also found statistically significantly in these women. Immunoglobulin G antibody detection is an effective and noninvasive tool for detection of Chlamydia and a more viable option than HSG in a developing country such as India. Screening of women with secondary infertility for C. trachomatis is strongly recommended to allow early therapeutic interventions.
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