Genital Infections in Couple Infertility in Dakar

Abstract

Background: Couple infertility is a real public health problem affecting 8–15% of couples worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate genital infections in infertile couples in Dakar. Methodology: This was an 8-month prospective study of infertile couples followed up in 3 health facilities in the Dakar region. Standard bacteriology was performed on genital swabs and Triplex PCR for the detection of Neisseria gonorrhoea, Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium. Data analysis was performed using SPSS IBM 25 software. Results: A total of 98 women (65.3%) and 52 men (34.7%) with an average age of 34 years and extremes ranging from 18 to 56 years were included. In men, the prevalence of genital infections was 17.3% (n=9), with a predominance of Mycoplasma hominis (5.8%), Ureaplasma urealyticum (5.8%) and Escherichia coli (3. 8%). In women, 70.3% (n=59) had an infection, and the most frequently isolated germs were G. vaginalis (19%), U. urealyticum (17%) and Candida albicans (17%). Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Mycoplasma genitalium were absent in all patients. Chlamydia trachomatis, on the other hand, was positive in 10 patients using antigenic tests, with confirmation in just one patient by PCR. Conclusion: The prevalence of genital infections in infertile couples was very high in our study. Good medical management of these infections necessarily requires good laboratory diagnosis.