Chlamydia trachomatis is not an important cause of abnormal postcoital tests in ovulating patients

Abstract

To examine the role of Chlamydia trachomatis infections of the cervix and abnormal postcoital tests (PCT) in a general infertility clinic, 63 consecutive patients undergoing a midcycle PCT during a routine infertility workup underwent endocervical curettage, and a 10-ml blood sample was obtained. The endocervical tissue was cultured for C. trachomatis; the serum sample was analyzed for chlamydial IgG and IgM antibodies using an indirect microimmunofluorescence assay. A negative titer was considered to be less than or equal to 1:8 dilution for IgG antibodies and less than or equal to 1:32 dilution for IgM antibodies. A good PCT was defined as greater than or equal to 5 motile sperm per high power field (HPF). A poor PCT was defined as less than 2 motile sperm/HPF, and a fair PCT was defined as 2 to 4 motile sperm/HPF. Of the 63 PCTs done, 27 (42.9%) were good, 14 (22.2%) were fair, and 22 (34.9%) were poor. All endocervical tissue cultures for C. trachomatis obtained during PCTs were negative. All IgM chlamydial antibody titers were negative (less than or equal to 1:32 dilution), 55 (87.3%) of the patients having a zero titer. Eleven (17.5%) of the patients had negative IgG chlamydial antibody titers (less than or equal to 1:8 dilution), none of the patients had a 1:16 dilution, and 52 (82.5%) had positive IgG chlamydial antibody titers (greater than or equal to 1:32 dilution). Thus, chlamydial infections of the endocervix are rare and not commonly associated with poor PCTs in this patient population.