THE RELATION BETWEEN IMMUNOGLOBULIN-G ANTIBODIES TO CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS AND POOR OVARIAN RESPONSE TO GONADOTROPIN STIMULATION BEFORE IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

Objective: To determine whether a relation exists between previous exp osure to Chlamydia trachomatis and impaired ovarian response to gonado tropin stimulation. Design: Controlled clinical study. Setting: Two un iversity NF centers. Patient(s): Two hundred forty-two patients receiv ing NF treatment and 81 control patients. Ninety-four patients with a poor response to IVF, defined by cycle cancellation in response to a d aily stimulation dose of 300 IU of FSH, and 148 patients with a good r esponse were matched for age. Twenty-eight pregnant controls and 53 co ntrols of proven fertility also were included. Intervention(s): Serum samples were obtained from patients and controls. Serum levels of immu noglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to C. trachomatis were determined by ELIS A. Main Outcome Measure(s): The prevalence of serum IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis in critically defined poor responders was compared with that of age-matched good responders. Result(s): A significantly highe r proportion of poor responders had serum IgG antibodies to C. trachom atis compared with good responders (44.7% and 30.4%, respectively). Pa tients undergoing NF had a significantly higher prevalence of IgG anti bodies to C. trachomatis (36%) than did either pregnant or nonpregnant controls (12%). Conclusion(s): A significantly higher prevalence of s erum IgG antibodies to C. trachomatis was observed in critically defin ed poor responders, suggesting a possible detrimental effect of C. tra chomatis on subsequent ovarian function. (Fertil Steril(R) 1998;70:214 -8. (C)1998 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.).