title: Influence of sexual intercourse on genital tract microbiota in infertile couples.
abstract: Several studies have suggested the association of disturbed genital tract microbiota with infertility. Our aim was to clarify the influence of sexual intercourse on partner's genital tract microbiota in infertile couples. Seventeen couples were studied, and in 5 men inflammatory prostatitis (IP) was diagnosed. Semen samples were collected during menstruation of the female counterpart, two self-collected vaginal samples were taken 3-5 days later - before intercourse and 8-12 h after intercourse. Ureaplasma parvum was found in 59% of women, its prevalence was higher in women whose partner had IP, as well as in half of their male partners. Sexual intercourse caused significant shifts in vaginal microbiota - increase of Nugent score and shifts in cultured microbiota (emergence and disappearance of several species). These changes were less expressed in the presence of normal vaginal microbiota but more prominent in the partners of IP men. These changes may interfere with fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Tartu, Estonia.
authors.forename: Natalja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borovkova
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Korrovits
authors.forename: Kristo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ausmees
authors.forename: Silver
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Türk
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jõers
authors.forename: Margus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Punab
authors.forename: Reet
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mändar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058448:Biota; D003075:Coitus; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology*; D014509:Ureaplasma; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*