Serological evidence that chlamydiae and mycoplasmas are involved in infertility of women.

Abstract

Women with a history of infertility for 2 or more years were examined by hysterosalpingography (HSG) and antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis and M. genitalium were measured by a microimmunofluorescence technique in sera obtained immediately before HSG. Of 45 women with abnormal HSG findings, 15 (33%) had antibodies to C. trachomatis and 16 (35.5%) to M. hominis. In contrast, of 61 women with normal HSG findings, only 8 (13%) and 7 (11.5%) had antibodies to these micro-organisms, respectively. Antibody against M. genitalium was found in 26 of the patients (20% abnormal HSG and 28% normal HSG), indicating the need for further investigation of the significance of this mycoplasma in female infertility. The present results do confirm, however, that C. trachomatis is an important cause of infertility in women and suggest strongly that M. hominis is implicated.