The study objective was to evaluate the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women with and without infertile conditions. A total of 280 patients, aged 18-40, recruited for the study, were referred by infertility clinics in the Chennai city. Gynecological examinations confirmed genital discharges (group I) in 184 patients and irregular periods (group II) in 96 women. The comparative group (control) consisting of 55 women, aged of 20 – 38 years, who had no clinical symptoms or specific syndromes of Chlamydia infections. Anti chlamydial IgG antibodies in the serum were determined using an immune enzymatic assay. In the direct test, C. trachomatis infection was found in group I in 112/184 (60.9%), in group II in 72/96 (75%) and in the comparative group in 5/55 (9.1%). Our results show a higher prevalence of C. trachomatis infection in female patients with specific symptoms as compared to unaffected women, thus suggesting that diagnostic tests for C. trachomatis infection should be included in the screening programmes for women.
