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. 1993;1(2):85–90. doi: 10.1155/S1064744993000201

Presence of Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, and Other Bacteria in the Upper and Lower Genital Tracts of Fertile and Infertile Populations

Mark G Martens 1, Ronald L Young 2, Marco Uribe 2, V C Buttram Jr 2, Sebastian Faro 3
PMCID: PMC2364301  PMID: 18475323

Abstract

Objective: The genital mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum) and Chlamydia trachomatis have been implicated as possible etiologic factors in infertility. Their role in patients with infertility needs to be further defined.

Methods: Seventy-nine infertile patients underwent laparoscopy with cultures obtained for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, Chlamydia, Mycoplasma, and Ureaplasma from the peritoneal fluid, fallopian tube, endometrium, and endocervix. Cultures for similar organisms were taken from the endocervix of 80 fertile women in their first trimester. Culture results were also compared according to ovulatory status and laparoscopic findings in the infertile group.

Results: There were no differences in the recovery of Ureaplasma (29% vs. 28%) or Chlamydia (4% vs. 0%) positive cervical cultures in the fertile and infertile groups, respectively. However, a significantly higher number of Mycoplasma positive cervical cultures (14% vs. 5%, P = 0.05) were found in the fertile group. Only two upper genital tract cultures were found to be positive (Ureaplasma).

Conclusions: Therefore, if these organisms play a role in infertility, they are present and eradicated prior to infertility work-up and thus do not supports the use of a routine trial of antibiotics prior to laparoscopy.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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