Can diagnostic laparoscopy be avoided in routine investigation for infertility?
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether routine testing for serum Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies, considered in combination with a woman’s clinical features, may avoid the need for diagnostic laparoscopy in routine investigation for infertility. DESIGN: Retrospective case notes analysis. SETTING: Secondary level care infertility clinic. POPULATION: Eighty women who had undergone both laparoscopy and serum Chlamydia trachomatis antibody testing. METHODS: Ascertainment of any history of suspected pelvic inflammatory disease, pelvic pain, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, pelvic surgery or appendicectomy; any abnormality on clinical pelvic examination; the findings at laparoscopy; the result of serum Chlamydia trachomatis antibody testing by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening with microimmunofluorescence (MIF) confirmatory diagnostic testing. The usefulness of clinical features, the serum Chlamydia trachomatis antibody test and these two variables combined in the detection of
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