Chlamydia, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma infections in infertile couples and effects of these infections on fertility.
OBJECTIVE
In our study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum infections among infertile couples and effects of these infections on infertility.


METHODS
Prevalence of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma antibodies and Chlamydia IgM antibodies and its effect on these agents' sperm parameters, namely, morphology, density, and motility were investigated among a total of 212 patients including fertile and infertile couples. Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma antigens were evaluated using ELISA in the cervical and urethral samples. Chlamydia IgM antibody was measured using micro-ELISA in blood samples.


RESULTS
No difference was detected among the fertile and infertile groups in the serological investigation of urethral and cervical samples with respect to the prevalence of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma antigens and Chlamydia IgM antibody and sperm parameters (p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There is no significant difference between fertile and infertile couples in terms of the prevalence of the above mentioned infections. Accordingly, during the infertility assessment, infertile couples should not be routinely screened for these infective agents without any clinically sound evidence.
Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Ilker
I
Günyeli
Faruk
F
Abike
Ilkkan
I
Dünder
Canan
C
Aslan
Omer Lütfi
OL
Tapısız
Osman
O
Temizkan
Ahmet
A
Payaslı
Evrim
E
Erdemoğlu
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007075:Immunoglobulin M