Urogenital Mycoplasmosis and Pregnancy

Abstract

Urogenital mycoplasmas Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum and Mycoplasma hominis have long been considered commensals of human urogenital microflora. Several studies have recently clarified whether these bacteria could cause or be associated with various obstetric complications. Epidemiologic studies have found high prevalence of Ureaplasma spp. and M. hominis among otherwise healthy population. On the other hand, U. urealyticum, U. parvum and M. hominis have increasingly been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as spontaneous pre-term labor, pre-term premature rupture of fetal membranes, miscarriage, stillbirth and low birth weight. However, no convincing causal relationship has been shown. Studies have shown that antibiotics resistance is on the rise and differs considerably by regions. Screening of asymptomatic patients for M. hominis, U. urealyticum and U. parvum is currently still not indicated.

Multiple sexually transmitted co-infections are associated with adverse reproductive outcomes in asymptomatic adolescent pregnant women; A Prospective cohort study

“…Univariate, studies showed Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection to be significantly associated with cervicitis ( 22 ); however, these infections are least studied in the Indian context. Although it was reported that Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) and Ureaplasma parvum (UP) are part of normal vaginal flora, but their serovars responsible for the obstetrics complications ( 23 ) tend to increase antimicrobial resistance ( 24 ). It has been reported that Ureaplasma species are observed more frequently in the symptomatic patients, whereas Mycoplasma species are observed in asymptomatic pregnant women ( 25 , 26 ).…”

“…However, little is known about their effects in asymptomatic adolescents. These infections have been reported to contribute to infertility and adverse obstetric outcomes in symptomatic patients ( 23 , 33 ). Adolescent physiologies impel them toward high-risk infections though negligible data exists with respect to adolescent pregnancy ( 34 ).…”