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 trachomatisantibodies 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. trachomatisab titers 40 have been compared with the equivalent data from couples where the female partner had C. trachomatisab 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. trachomatisdid not alter the success rate of IVF-ET.