Authors
Njoku A.I¹, Geidam A², Idrisa A², Samuel SO³, Eifediyi R¹.
Abstract
Chlamydia trachomatis is a well-recognized sexually transmitted pathogen which usually remains asymptomatic and therefore largely untreated with its attendant sequelae of infertility. Chlamydia trachomatis infection usually remains asymptomatic and untreated. Studies that demonstrate the presence of chlamydia antibodies with female infertility are few in our environment, despite the well documented fact that tubal factor infertility is common and genital tract infections largely implicated.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection among infertile women attending the gynaecological clinics and also to identify associated risk factors.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.
Study Area: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri.
Methodology: One hundred and forty consecutive, consenting infertile patients, who satisfied the inclusion criteria of having tubal infertility as seen on Hysterosalpingography (HSG) and confirmed by laparoscopy, were recruited for the study. Women who do not have tubal infertility and non-consenting women were excluded. Socio-demographic variables such as age, marital status, educational status and parity were recorded. Sexual and reproductive risk factors including age at sexual debut, number of sexual partners, use of condoms, history suggestive of previous pelvic infections and where they sought treatment were also evaluated. Additionally, 5mls of blood were collected from the respondents for serological assay of Chlamydia antibody titre.
Results: The prevalence of C.trachomatis antibodies amongst the infertile women was 42.9% with mean age of 28.56 ± 5.81. All the participants were married. Most of the infertile women were childless with 88(62.9%) of them being nulliparous. Symptoms that were significantly associated with being chlamydial seropositive include abnormal vaginal discharge, dysmenorrhoea, lower abdominal pain and dyspareunia. The study showed that younger ages at sexual debut, type of family setting and having more than three lifetime sexual partners were risk factors for being seropositive for chlamydia trachomatis infection.
Conclusion: The prevalence of IgG antibody to chlamydia trachomatis was significantly high in infertile women in this study. Risk factors that showed association with infertility were also identified. This suggests that Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a potential contributor to female infertility in Maiduguri.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of chlamydia trachomatis infection among infertile women attending the gynaecological clinics and also to identify associated risk factors.
Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study.
Study Area: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri.
Methodology: One hundred and forty consecutive, consenting infertile patients, who satisfied the inclusion criteria of having tubal infertility as seen on Hysterosalpingography (HSG) and confirmed by laparoscopy, were recruited for the study. Women who do not have tubal infertility and non-consenting women were excluded. Socio-demographic variables such as age, marital status, educational status and parity were recorded. Sexual and reproductive risk factors including age at sexual debut, number of sexual partners, use of condoms, history suggestive of previous pelvic infections and where they sought treatment were also evaluated. Additionally, 5mls of blood were collected from the respondents for serological assay of Chlamydia antibody titre.
Results: The prevalence of C.trachomatis antibodies amongst the infertile women was 42.9% with mean age of 28.56 ± 5.81. All the participants were married. Most of the infertile women were childless with 88(62.9%) of them being nulliparous. Symptoms that were significantly associated with being chlamydial seropositive include abnormal vaginal discharge, dysmenorrhoea, lower abdominal pain and dyspareunia. The study showed that younger ages at sexual debut, type of family setting and having more than three lifetime sexual partners were risk factors for being seropositive for chlamydia trachomatis infection.
Conclusion: The prevalence of IgG antibody to chlamydia trachomatis was significantly high in infertile women in this study. Risk factors that showed association with infertility were also identified. This suggests that Chlamydia trachomatis infection is a potential contributor to female infertility in Maiduguri.
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