The role of genital mycoplasma infection in female infertility: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Abstract

Problem: Recent studies show that lower genital tract infection with genital mycoplasma may be associated with the pathology of female infertility. However, this association remains controversial due to the variable prevalence, sample sizes, and different methods used to diagnose genital mycoplasma infection. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to gain better understanding of the specific impact of genital mycoplasma on female infertility. Method of Study:A systematic review of literature on the association of genital mycoplasma (Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma parvum, and Ureaplasma urealyticum) infection and female infertility was performed using three electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL, from January 2000 to January 2020. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for genital mycoplasma infection and female infertility were derived from a fixed effects model. Results:This meta-analysis included eight studies conducted in six countries. Based on the results, women with infertility had a statistically higher odds of having any genital mycoplasma infection (p < .0001) compared to the control group. The pooled OR of all the included studies was 3.82 (95% CI: 2.55, 5.72). There was an unremarkable heterogeneity in all the studies included in this meta-analysis (I 2 = 0%, p = .48). A subgroup analysis also showed that M. genitalium, M. hominis, and U. urealyticum infections are significantly associated with female infertility. Conclusion:Our meta-analysis showed a significant association between M. genitalium, M. hominis, and U. urealyticum infections and female infertility. This evidence supports the development of guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of genital mycoplasma infections to prevent female infertility.

Results from a large cross-sectional study assessing Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma spp. and Mycoplasma hominis urogenital infections in patients with primary infertility

“…Besides, our results are in line with recently reported data showing higher prevalence of M. hominis and Ureaplasma spp. urogenital infections in infertile patients, especially in women 18 , 27 – 29 . Furthermore, our results also showed that C. trachomatis and Ureaplasma spp.…”

“…, who found a prevalence of U. urealyticum and M. hominis urogenital infection of 39.6% and 8.1%, respectively, in Czech women undergoing an initial infertility evaluation 34 . Interestingly, a recent meta-analysis showed a significant association between M. hominis and U. urealyticum infections and female infertility 29 . In addition, Gdoura et al .…”

The Treatment of Complementary and Alternative Medicine on Female Infertility Caused by Endometrial Factors

“…Infertility is de ned as a multifactorial and complex reproductive system disorder in which a couple fails to establish a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of normal unprotected intercourse [1]. Biological, genetic, reproductive tract infection, lifestyle, and environmental factors are all associated with female reproductive capacity [2][3][4]. Infertility has a ected 8%-12% of couples of childbearing age globally, with the female factors accounting for nearly as much as the male factors [3,5].…”

Determination of In Vitro Antimicrobial Susceptibility for Lefamulin (Pleuromutilin) for Ureaplasma Spp. and Mycoplasma hominis

“…The family, Mycoplasmataceae, contains human and animal pathogens of the respiratory and genital tract that encompass the genera, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. The generalised term, human urogenital mycoplasma infections, encompass four species ( M. genitalium , M. hominis , U. parvum and U. urealyticum ) that are associated with symptomatic genital infections and infertility but can also be present as asymptomatic infections [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ].…”