Chlamydia in men now also linked to infertility ne...( t contracting Chlamydia. Men need to be...)

Antibodies in the women were related to tubal factor infertility (TFI) confirming previous findings that Chlamydia is linked to TFI. But, IgG antibodies in men were not associated with TFI in their partners.

"As there was no connection between IgG antibodies in the men and TFI in their partners there may be alternative or additional mechanisms involved that are reducing fertility. It is possible that decreased sperm motility or concurrent or undetected infection may play a role, but that is speculative as we did not look at these possibilities in the present study," Professor Olofsson said. But, he added, a follow up study on semen analyses was nearing completion.

There was one reassuring finding from the present study. Principal author Dr Annika Idahl said that for those couples attending the fertility clinic who became pregnant, either spontaneously or through IVF, infection or Chlamydia antibodies did not put the pregnancy at risk as there was no difference in the outcome of the pregnancies between IgG positive or negative couples. (150 of the 244 couples achieved pregnancy 58.7% spontaneously and 41.3% via treatment).

The finding that infection or the presence of Chlamydia antibodies in the infertile men is linked to reduced fertility has lead researchers to suggest screening of both partners who attend infertility clinics. Dr Idahl said: "We suggest that Chlamydia antibody testing of both male and female partners should be included in routine infertility work-up in order to enable a more adequate prognosis for the likelihood of spontaneous pregnancy. But, it remains to be seen in a randomized controlled study whether or not antibiotic treatment either for antibody positive infertile patients or for all infertile patients will increase the chances of pregnancy."

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Contact: Margaret Willson
m.willson@mwcommunications.org.uk
44-153-677-2181
European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology
28-Apr-2004