The association between sperm quality and asymptomatic chlamydial infection in infertile men at a private fertility clinic in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Association between chlamydia trachomatis infection and male infertility is debated in literature. There is little or no information from Nigeria. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infection and its association with sperm quality parameters among asymptomatic men that present for infertility treatment in a Nigeria facility.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at a private assisted conception clinic in Lagos, Nigeria among 138 men seeking infertility care. Seminal fluid analysis and IgG Chlamydial serology were performed for each participant. Data obtained were analysed using SPSS; p was significant at <0.05.

Results: Of the 138 men screened, 13.9% were Chlamydia-positive. Twenty-one per cent of clients who tested positive to Chlamydia had predominantly immotile sperm, compared with 10.2% without the infection; 26.3% with non-progressive motility had Chlamydia, compared with 2.8% men who were not infected. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.001). More of those (57.9%) with Chlamydia (compared to 33.1% without) had significant leukocyte counts (p = 0.037). There were no statistically significant differences in sperm count and percent motility between serologically positive and negative men.

Conclusion: Positive Chlamydia serology is associated with non-progressive motility and leukocytospermia in infertile Nigerian men.

Keywords: Chlamydia, semen analysis, infertility