Ectopic pregnancies and reproductive capacity after Chlamydia trachomatis positive and negative test results: a historical follow-up study

Sex Transm Dis. 2005 Jun;32(6):377-81. doi: 10.1097/01.olq.0000154512.86651.07.

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have shown that women with Chlamydia trachomatis-positive test results worry about their future fertility.

Goal: The goal of this study was to give women infected with C. trachomatis a fertility prognosis by analyzing ectopic pregnancies and birth rates

Study design: An historical follow-up study in a cohort of 22,264 women tested for the infection was conducted.

Results: Cox regression analysis with time-dependent covariates showed that women with at least 1 C. trachomatis-positive test result had a lower incidence rate of ectopic pregnancy than women with negative test results only (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31-0.96). We found comparable birth rates in the 2 groups (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.84-1.00).

Conclusions: Counseling of women with a C. trachomatis-positive test result should emphasize the benefit of detection and treatment of the infection in terms of future morbidity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Birth Rate
  • Chlamydia Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydia trachomatis*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / epidemiology
  • Infertility, Female / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / epidemiology*
  • Pregnancy, Ectopic / etiology*
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Registries