CORRELATION BETWEEN SEMINAL PARAMETERS AN D CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN INFERTILE MEN - AIM OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of C. tracho matis infection in asymptomatic infertile male patients admitted to ou r fertility unit and to investigate whether seminal parameters correla te with C. trachomatis serology. Patients and methods: 367 consecutive unselected patients were examined. C. trachomatis antibodies (IgG/IgA ) were determined using a C. trachomatis specific ELISA. Semen analysi s was performed according to WHO-guidelines. For C. trachomatis antige n detection patients were divided into two groups. In group I (patient s 1-156) C. trachomatis antigen was detected in urethral swabs and eja culate by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In group II (patients 157-3 67) antigen detection was performed in ejaculate and first void urine by ligase chain reaction (LCR). Results: 20% of the patients had posit ive antibody titers. C. trachomatis antigen was detected in the ejacul ate of one patient by PCR. Antibody-positive patients showed significa ntly less normal sperm morphology. The other seminal parameters did no t differ significantly between antibody-positive and antibody-negative patients. Conclusion: The incidence of C. trachomatis antibodies is h igher in infertile male patients compared with normal populations. The negative correlation between positive serostatus and normal sperm mor phology suggests a detrimental effect of C. trachomatis infection on m ale fertility.