Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 6, 1433-1436,
June 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Debate Continued |
Chlamydia trachomatis in subfertile women undergoing uterine instrumentation
The clinician's role
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK. E-mail: ogy167{at}abdn.ac.uk
Most women attending a fertility clinic will undergo uterine instrumentation either diagnostically and/or therapeutically. This places them at potential risk of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease. Clinicians remain unclear about the roles of screening, serology and prophylactic antibiotics. A review of the evidence suggests that women <25 years and those older with risk factors, men with risk factors and gamete donors should have their lower genital tract screened for Chlamydia trachomatis by a sensitive test. More information is required before screening men by age can be recommended. Serology in its present form cannot be advocated as a screening tool. Those women with a past history of chlamydial morbidity or a diagnosis of tubal pathology should, in addition to screening, be covered with prophylactic antibiotics when undergoing uterine instrumentation. The partner should be screened for sexually transmitted infections. Non-selective use of prophylactic antibiotics serves only to increase the problem of antibiotic resistance and maintain the bacterial load of chlamydia in the community.
Key words: Chlamydia trachomatis/prophylactic antibiotics/screening/subfertility/uterine instrumentation