Genital tract infection and associated factors affect the reproductive outcome in fertile females and females undergoing in vitro fertilization

Abstract

Assisted reproductive techniques including in vitro fertilization (IVF) are being used increasingly worldwide and screening for genital tract infections (GTIs) is recommended prior to treatment as their presence may affect the success rate of IVF. The current study aimed to assess the possible associations between GTI-associated factors and reproductive outcome in a group of reproductive age fertile females and infertile females receiving IVF. A total of 111 infertile women enrolled in an IVF programme (Group A) and 104 fertile women (mothers of at least one child; Group B) underwent microbiological screening of vaginal and cervical samples. All samples were cultured using different protocols for aerobic pathogens, bacterial vaginosis (BV), Ureaplasma urealyticum , Mycoplasma hominis , Chlamydia trachomatis and human papilloma virus (HPV). Although each group were comparable in age, more infertile women were >30 years (P=0.0064), had a higher education level (P=0.0001) and were smokers (P=0.007). Only BV (P=0.0013) was more prevalent in Group A. Of the 111 infertile females who were scheduled for IVF, 32 females had a successful pregnancy (Group C) and 79 females exhibited IVF failure (Group D). Tubal factor (P=0.012), estradiol-2 (E2) levels <2,500 pg/ml (P=0.0009) and Mycoplasma infection (P=0.003) were identified to be the strongest predictors of IVF failure. The current study determined certain GTI-associated factors that may contribute to infertility in Greek females of reproductive age as well as other risk factors associated with failure in patients undergoing IVF. Further studies are required to confirm this conclusion.

Bovine Papillomavirus Type 2 Infection Associated with Papillomatosis of the Amniotic Membrane in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

“…Finally, a growing body of evidence in comparative medicine suggests that HPVs and BPVs may have an impact on reproductive health and may represent additional infectious pathogens responsible for reproductive disorders. It has been recommended to include HPV testing in the screening for genital tract infections in non-assisted and assisted reproductive technology [45,46]. Cancer and subfertility are considered two sides of the same coin in HPV infection [47].…”

Human papillomavirus infection and female infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The selection process is shown in FIGURE 1. Eleven case-control studies (Jia et al, 2016;Wu et al, 2013;Yang et al, 2017;Zhang et al, 2007;Yan et al, 2015;Lundqvist et al, 2002;Moragianni et al, 2019;Wang et al, 2016;Rocha et al, 2019;Peng et al, 2012;Cheng and Liu, 2013) were included in the meta-analysis, and their main characteristics and NOS scores are summarized in TABLE 1. All included studies, except one (Rocha et al, 2019), only described HPV infections at the cervix.…”

Examination of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in 4082 Chinese patients

“…Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Mycoplasma hominis (MH) are the most common Mycoplasma bacteria types, which are one of the main causes of male non-gonococcal urethritis, female cervical infection, abortion, and other diseases (1,2). In recent years, with the abuse of antibiotics, non-standard drug use, repeated infection, and other factors, the drug resistance of UU and MH has increased, which brings many difficulties to a standardized clinical treatment (3,4).…”