Interaction of Microbiology and Pathology in Women Undergoing Investigations for Infertility

Joseph Debattista; Caroline M Gazzard; Robyn N Wood; John A Allan; Janet M Allan; Anthony Scarman; Miranda Mortlock; Peter Timms; Christine L Knox

doi:10.1080/10647440400020703

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Interaction of Microbiology and Pathology in Women Undergoing Investigations for Infertility

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Interaction of Microbiology and Pathology in Women Undergoing Investigations for Infertility

Joseph Debattista, Caroline M Gazzard, Robyn N Wood, John A Allan, Janet M Allan, Anthony Scarman, Miranda Mortlock, Peter Timms and Christine L Knox

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol.12(3-4), pp.135-145

2004

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10647440400020703

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Abstract

Microbiology

Medical Microbiology

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 clinically asymptomatic women undergoing investigation of infertility were correlated with the outcomes of microbiological screening for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis, ureaplasma species, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis and Chlamydia 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 of C. trachomatis infection as detected by either PCR or EIA serology. Of these 7 women, 5 (71%) had no or mild endometriosis and 2 (29%) had moderate or severe 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 previous C. trachomatis infection. 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. trachomatis infection could be a likely cause for such tubal damage.

Details

Title: Interaction of Microbiology and Pathology in Women Undergoing Investigations for Infertility
Authors: Joseph Debattista (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Caroline M Gazzard (Author) - Queensland Medical Laboratory
Robyn N Wood (Author) - Queensland Medical Laboratory
John A Allan (Author) - Wesley Hospital
Janet M Allan (Author) - Wesley Hospital
Anthony Scarman (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Miranda Mortlock (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Peter Timms (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Christine L Knox (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Publication details: Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol.12(3-4), pp.135-145
Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Date published: 2004
DOI: 10.1080/10647440400020703
ISSN: 1064-7449
Copyright note: Copyright © 2004 Hindawi Publishing Corporation. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450088102621
Output Type: Journal article

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