To Compare the Frequency of Chlamydial Infection in Infertile Women Compared to Normal Women

Abstract

Background: A better understanding of the role of persistent C. trachomatis infections in tubal factor subfertility may be useful in optimizing the fertility work-up by incorporating screening tests for persistent C. trachomatis infections. The aim is to accurately estimate the risk of persistence and identify those women who are at highest risk of tubal pathology. Aim: To compare the frequency of chlamydial infection in infertile women compared to normal women. Study Design: Case control study. Settings: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hospital, Bahawalpur. Study duration: 1st October 2019 to 31st March 2020. Methods: A total of 88 women (44 infertile and 44 normal), having normal semen analysis report, of age ranging from 18 to 40 years were included. Patients with polycystic ovarian disease, hyperprolactinemia, & hypothyroidism were excluded. Blood sample of all women in both groups was sent to the institutional pathology laboratory for presence or absence of chlamydial infection. Results: The mean age of women in case group was 27.80 ± 3.60 years and in control group was 28.05 ± 3.69 years. The mean duration of marriage in case group was 4.93 ± 1.66 years and in control group was 4.95 ± 1.68 years. The mean BMI in case group was 29.36 ± 2.52 kg/m2 and in control group was 29.50 ± 2.51 kg/m2. My study reveals the frequency of chlamydial infection in infertile women was seen in 15 (34.09%) women as compared to 05 (9.09%) in normal women which has shown p-value of 0.007 and odds ratio of 5.17 which is significant. Conclusion: This study concluded that frequency of chlamydial infection in infertile women is higher compared to normal women. Keywords: Infertility, chlamydial infection, tubal factor, sexually transmitted diseases