A possible role of Chlamydia trachomatis in unexplained infertility and sterility.

To estimate the presence of latent Chlamydia Trachomatis (C.T.) infections, we have carried out a study on a selected group of couples affected by unexplained sterility and infertility. We examined 193 women and, as control group 210 healthy fertile women. For both groups the main risk factors that could explain the infection epidemiology have been analyzed. The parameters considered are age of first intercourse, number of partners, social-economic conditions and number of voluntary abortions. Amongst all the causal agents of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), C.T. was most common, with an incidence of about 12 per cent in the study group versus the 5.7 per cent of the control group (chi 2 = 4.12).