Latent Female Genital Tuberculosis Causes Tubal Defect Leading to Infertility

Abstract

Latent genital tuberculosis (LGTB) is commonly asymptomatic, and it is usually diagnosed during infertility investigations. Despite of recent advances in imaging tools, such as computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography, hysterosalpingography (HSG) is still considered as the standard screening test for evaluation of tubal factor infertility and a valuable tool for diagnosis of latent female genital tuberculosis. Various appearances on HSG from non-specific changes to specific findings have been detected in women with female genital tuberculosis (FGTB). The main objective of the present study was to establish the role of LGTB in causing minor tubal defects leading to tubal factor infertility in 423 infertile women from January 2016-December 2018 at our institute. These patients had undergone DNA-PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) for screening of LGTB, HSG in between Day 6 -Day 12 of cycle and then had had subsequent treatment with anti-tubercular drugs (ATD) with or without laparoscopy. The Clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate and live birth rate after treatment were analyzed and were found to be statistically significant when compared among groups of women who were treated with ATD; treated with ATD and laparoscopy and those who were treated with laparoscopy alone (PCR negative) .

Evidence of sexual transfer of mycobacteria from male to female partners reporting to an IVF clinic

“…5,6 We demonstrate that both TB and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can cause miscarriage when sexually transferred to female partners, who often display no symptoms, and are defined as having latent genital tuberculosis (LGTB). 7 We analyzed PCR data of samples gathered from LGTB females and their respective male counterparts, 8 which indicate sexual transmission of mycobacterium from asymptomatic males.…”