Background: Tuberculosis is second cause of death after HIV infection related to infectious diseases in the world. According to WHO reports, there are many risk factors for reactivation of tuberculosis infection. The aim of this study was to know if assisted reproductive techniques (ART) reactivate latent tuberculosis infection.

Materials and methods: In this retrospective cross sectional descriptive study that was made to evaluate the effect of ART on reactivation of latent tuberculosis. All patients with positive PPD test, TB in the past or patients who had sequels of TB from 2001 to 2012 were included in this study. Based on questionnaire, including demographics, kind of infertility treatment and active tuberculosis, one expert physician was asking some questions about sign and symptoms of tuberculosis.  If Patients had signs or symptoms of tuberculosis, they were visited by infectious disease specialist. Patients with tuberculosis were signed as reactivation of latent tuberculosis.

Results: Of 770 patients, 433 (56.2%) cases were only PPD positive, and 30.3% had PPD positive and signs of TB in the past. 81 (10.5%) patients did IUI, 126 (16.4%) ICSI, 43 (5.6%) IVF, 11 (1.4%) IVF/ICSI, and 7 (0/9%) ZIFT and 3 had donor of oocyts. There were 90 (11.7%) pregnancy, 24 (3.1%) deliveries, 30 (3.9%) abortions and 13 (1.7%) ectopic pregnancies, but there was only one case of reactivated TB in this study.

Conclusion: This study shows that patients with positive PPD do not need TB prophylaxis. For better result, we need a prospective study.

Keywords: PPD test, Assisted Reproductive Techniques,  Reactivation of latent tuberculosis.