Effect of chlamydial antibodies on the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to study the relationship between the presence of Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies and the success of IVF treatment.

DESIGN

We evaluated 118 in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) treatment cycles from 51 couples with a history of infertility lasting for at least 2 years. All women starting a treatment cycle had their serum chlamydial antibody titers measured by indirect immunofluorescent technique. All patients received similar ovarian stimulation regimens and the oocytes collected were inseminated with similar concentrations of motile sperm. Clinical data from couples where the female partner had C. trachomatis ab titers > or = 40 have been compared with the equivalent data from couples where the female partner had C. trachomatis ab titers < 40.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups concerning age, infertility period, oocytes collected, oocytes fertilized, and fertilization rate, and the pregnancy rates were comparable.

CONCLUSION

Previous exposure to C. trachomatis did not alter the success rate of IVF-ET.