Interaction of Microbiology and Pathology in Women Undergoing Investigations for Infertility

[摘要] Background:Cases of endometriosis with no tubal damage are associated with infertility, suggesting an immunological rather than mechanical barrier to reproduction. Laparoscopy and falloposcopy results of clinicallyasymptomatic women undergoing investigation of infertility were correlated with the outcomes of microbiological screening forChlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, ureaplasma species,Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidisandChlamydia pneumoniae.Methods:A total of 44 women presenting to a hospital IVF service for laparoscopic or laparoscopic/ falloposcopic investigation of infertility provided endocervical swabs, fallopian tube washings, and peripheral whole blood for analysis.Results:Of these 44 women, 15.9% (7) showed evidence ofC. trachomatisinfection as detected by either PCR or EIA serology. Of these 7 women, 5 (71%) had no or mild endometriosis and 2 (29%) had moderate orsevere endometriosis. Of the remaining 37 women who showed no evidence of chlamydial infection, 15 (40.5%) had no or mild endometriosis.Conclusion:Women with infertility, but without severe endometriosis at laparoscopy, showed a trend towards tubal damage and a higher rate of previousC. trachomatisinfection. Although not statistically significant, this trend would suggest that, where moderate to severe tubal damage is found to be the primary cause of infertility,C. trachomatisinfection could be a likely cause for such tubal damage.

[学科分类] 妇产科学