Comparison of chlamydia infection prevalence between patients with and without ectopic pregnancy using the PCR method

Damage of the fallopian tube after sexually transmitted diseases like Chlamydia trachomatis, is an important risk factor for ectopic pregnancy (EP). The study was designed to assess the prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in patients with EP in the southeastern part of Iran.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on fallopian tube tissue was applied to detect Chlamydia DNA in 42 patients with EP (EP group) and 87 patients without EP (control group) who underwent tubal ligation. The same protocol was performed with urine samples taken from the husbands in both groups.

Out of all studied females, 5 patients in the EP group were PCR-positive for C. trachomatis and none of the control group subjects was PCR-positive for C. trachomatis infection (P<0.05). Among the husbands, the PCR result was positive in the urine of 19 males (9 in the EP group and 10 in the control group). All PCR-positive women had husbands with PCR positive urine samples. No significant difference was found between Chlamydia infection in the EP and the control groups regarding age, duration of marriage, contraceptive method and history of infertility surgery and pelvic pain. There was no significant difference between prevalence of EP in women based on the PCR outcome in the husbands. The Chlamydia infection in men did not show any relation to the number of marriages.

Based on our findings, it can be concluded that Chlamydia is an important risk factor of the fallopian tube damage and EP in our society. Therefore, screening programs and treatment of Chlamydia infection are recommended in young women and high risk women and men.