Screening for Chlamydia Genital Infection Among Females Undergoing in Vitro Fertilization in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: To assess screening for Chlamydia genital infection among females undergoing In vitro fertilization (IVF). Methods: This study was conducted on 200 infertile females attending the Saudi Center for in vitro Fertilization, in Khamis Mushayt City, KSA. Screening for Chlamydia was performed using the Chlamydia Rapid Test. Results: Participants age was mostly less than 40 years (191, 95.5%). Primary infertility affected almost two thirds of participants (64%). The number of cycles of ovulation induction was 1-2 in more than one third of participants (39%), while one third of them underwent 5 cycles (33.5%). Only one participant was positive for Chlamydia (0.5%). As regard causes for infertility among those who were negative for Chlamydia, the male factor constituted 29.5%, compared with the female factor which constituted 52%, while unexplained causes for infertility constituted 18%. IVF was successful in the case of Chlamydia after receiving treatment, compared with 58.8% of cases who had causes for infertility other than Chlamydia. The total cost of screening of all participants was 5,000 Saudi Riyals (SR). The cost of a single cycle of ovulation induction was 16,000 SR. The cost of IVF per live birth was 20,000 SR for the case of positive Chlamydia, while the median cost was 87,533 SR for cases with negative Chlamydia. Conclusion: In spite of the low prevalence of genital C. trachomatis among females undergoing IVF in Khamis Mushayt, considering the relatively low cost of rapid screening for C. trachomatis compared with the remarkably high cost of IVF attempts, and the anticipated prevention of a list of complications, screening of this special group of females remains to be considered.