Oral Health Status and Fertility Treatment Including IVF

Abstract

Oral health is extremely important for the general wellbeing of the individual. From a number of research articles, it is established that there is a definitive connection between periodontal health and many systemic diseases, like type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even preterm labor and low birth weight of babies. The significant rate of failure in the treatment of infertility and IVF (in vitro fertilization) even with multiple advancements in the last decade has made scientist take interest in newer parameters of health, an important one among them being periodontal health. From the limited number of studies available on the relationship between periodontitis and reproductive health, it can be inferred that periodontitis can act as a focus of infection leading to bacteremia which can lead to complications in conceiving naturally or through IVF in women. A limited number of studies have also reported an association between male factor infertility (MFI) and dental health status of men. Although more research is needed to understand and explore this connection, this article reviews the current literature available linking poor oral health to infertility and poor outcomes of IVF.

Tooth Elongation of Maxillary Second Premolars and Mandibular Third Molars and Associated Periodontal Disease in Horses: A Retrospective Study

“…Human studies indicate that many body systems are affected by the presence of periodontal disease. 17,18,19 Donkey studies have shown links between dental disease and weight loss, colic and low body condition. 20,21 Extraction of teeth affected with severe periodontal disease may lead to exacerbation of malocclusions due to supereruption of unopposed cheek teeth, or spread of periodontal disease within the oral cavity due to drift of the teeth remaining in the row and secondary diastema formation.…”

Effects of Drugs Used to Treat Infertility on Periodontium and Periodontal Disease

“…It is well established that the maternal periodontal health has widespread effects on the developing foetus and recent researches have also found a relationship between the expectant mother's periodontal condition and her fertility status [12]. These revelations indicate an intricate relationship between the hormonal infertility drugs and the periodontal /gingival status of the woman that must be explored in more depth [13].…”

Periodontitis and female infertility: Is there a connection?

“…considerable (Khalife & Khalil, 2019); this has prompted the scientific community to focus its attention on other health parameters, including the influence of the maternal periodontal status on the success of fertility treatments. Although there are not many studies on this topic, from a study conducted by Khanna et al in 2017, it has been highlighted a correlation between the gingival index before treatment and the number of oocytes obtained following ovarian stimulation and between the number of embryos suitable for the implant and the gingival index after in vitro fertilization. Moreover, the study underlined a link between the maternal periodontium, the administration of hormonal therapy before treatment and its influence on the outcome of the therapy.…”

“…Moreover, the study underlined a link between the maternal periodontium, the administration of hormonal therapy before treatment and its influence on the outcome of the therapy. Therefore, it could be inferred that the maternal periodontium can be affected by the hormonal therapies administered before the execution of in vitro fertilization and that this may affect the effectiveness of the treatment (Khanna, Dhaimade, & Malhotra, 2017). However, in 2019 Dhalia Kalife and colleagues questioned that the presence of periodontitis may represent a risk factor for the positive outcome of an infertility treatment, and no apparent link was found between pre-existing periodontal disease and adverse outcomes of in vitro fertilization.…”