The Prevalence of Chlamydia Trachomatis By elisa in Infertile Women

Abstract

The Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis by ELISA in infertile women” Background: Chl amydi a t r achomat i s has curr ent l y emer ged as a most common sexual l y t r ansmi t t ed pat hogen. The undet ect ed and unt r eat ed i nf ect i on wi t h Chl amydi a t r achomat i s may l ead t o i nf ert i l i t y. Infert i l i t y due t o Chl amydi a t rachomat i s i nf ect i on i s a pr event abl e one, i f det ect ed earl y. Dat a pert ai ni ng t o i nf er t i l i t y at t ri but ed t o Chl amydi a t rachomat i s i s ver y l i mi t ed i n Indi a, t hus pr event i ng any pol i cy f r om bei ng f ormul at ed r egardi ng scr eeni ng of pat i ent s wi t h i nfert i l i t y. Hence t hi s st udy was undert aken t o est i mat e t he preval ence of Chl amydi a t r achomat i s i nf ect i on among i nfert i l e women. Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in infertile women. Material and Methods:: This was a Cross-sectional study which consisted of 257 infertile women, attending assisted reproduction centre at KLES Dr. Prabhakar hospital, Belgaum, from January 2009 to September 2010. A detailed history of lower genital tract and upper genital tract infection was taken from all the subjects enrolled in the study. Peripheral blood was drawn and sent for serum IgG ELISA. Results: Of the 257 subjects 19 were positive for Chlamydia trachomatis infection. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in infertile women is found to be 7.3%.T her e was no si gni fi cant associ at i on bet ween t he t ype of i nf er t i l i t y and Chl amydi a V t rachomat i s IgG ELI SA posi t i vi t y i n our st udy. Al l t he posi t i ve cases det ect ed i n t he st udy wer e as ympt omat i c. Conclusion: The frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in infertile women is 1 in 15, which is high. Early diagnosis and identification of Chlamydia trachomatis by a low cost test such as IgG ELISA would prevent further harmful and damaging sequelae of Chlamydia trachomatis infection.