Abstract
Purpose
The prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticumand Mycoplasma hominisin the endocervix at the time of oocyte collection in women undergoing in vitrofertilization (IVF) was examined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Methods
All women were treated with tetracycline following sample collection.
Results
U. urealyticumwas identified in 56 (17.2%) of 326 women while M. hominiswas present in only 5 (2.1%) of 235 women. U. urealyticumwas detected at a higher frequency (P =0.01) in those women whose IVF cycle failed prior to embryo transfer. This organism was present in 8 of 19 (42.1%) women with either no fertilization or no embryo transfer, 19 of 148 (12.8%) who had no evidence of pregnancy following embryo transfer, 6 of 30 (20,0%) who had only a transient (biochemical) pregnancy, 5 of 14 (35.7%) with a spontaneous abortion, and 18 of 115 (15.6%) with a term birth. Of the eight women with U. urealyticumwho had no embryos transferred, male factor was the cause of infertility in five cases, two women had tubal occlusions while in one woman the diagnosis was idiopathic. Therefore, poor sperm quality, and not a U. urealyticuminfection, might explain the failure of most of these cases to proceed to the stage of embryo transfer. Analysis of all patients revealed no association between male factor infertility and U. urealyticumin the cervix.
Conclusions
U. urealyticum,but not M. hominis,is present in the cervices of many culture-negative women. Its presence, however, does not influence IVF outcome subsequent to embryo transfer in women treated with tetracycline after oocyte retrieval.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
McCormack WM, Rosner B, Alpert S, Evrard JR, Crockett VA, Zinner SH: Vaginal colonization withMycoplasma hominis andUreaplasma urealyticum. Sex Transm Dis 1986;13:67–70
Smith JL, Winship MJ: Prevalence ofChlamydia trachomatis and the genital mycoplasmas in a nonmetropolitan population. Int J Fertil 1987;32:453–455
Kovacs GT, Westcott M, Rusden J, Asche V, King H, Haynes SE, Moore EK, Hall BE: Microbiological profile of the cervix in 1,000 sexually active women. Aust NZ J Obstet Gynecol 1988;28:216–220
Vonsee HJ. Stobberingh EE, Bouckaert PX, de Haan J, van Boven CP: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis andUreaplasma urealyticum in pregnant Dutch women. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1989;32:149–156
Cassel GH, Clyde WA, Kenny GE, McCormack WM, Taylor-Robinson D: Ureaplasmas of humans: with emphasis upon maternal and neonatal infections. Pediatr Infect Dis 1986:5:S221–354
Montagut JM, Lepretre S, Degoy J, Rousseau M:Ureaplasma in semen and IVF. Hum Reprod 1991;6:727–729
Hill AC, Tucker MJ, Whittingham DG, Craft I: Mycoplasmas and in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1987;47:652–655
Witkin SS, Jeremias J, Toth M, Ledger WJ: Detection ofChlamydia trachomatis by the polymerase chain reaction in the cervices of women with acute salpingitis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993;168:1438–1442
Lee AH, Ramanujam T, Ware P, Edelstein PH, Brooks JJ, Freundlich B, Schumacher HR, Zurier RB, Weiner DB, Williams WV: Molecular diagnosis ofUreaplasma urealyticum septic arthritis in a patient with hypogammaglobulinemia. Arthritis Rheum 1992;354:443–448
Blanchard A, Yanez A, Dybvig K, Watson HL, Griffiths G, Cassell GH: Evaluation of intraspecies variation within the 16S rRNA gene ofMycoplasma hominis and detection by polymerase chain reaction. J Clin Microbiol 1993;31:1358–1361
Cassell GH, Davis JK, Waites KB, Rudd PT, Talkington D, Crouse D, Horowitz SA: Pathogenesis and significance of urogenital mycoplasmal infections. Adv Exp Med Biol 1987;224:93–115
Rose BI, Scott B: Sperm motility, morphology, hyperactivation, and ionophore-induced acrosome reactions after overnight incubation with mycoplasmas. Fertil Steril 1994;61:341–348
Busolo F, Zanchetta R: The effect ofMycoplasma hominis andUreaplasma urealyticum on hamster egg in vitro penetration by human spermatozoa. Fertil Steril 1985;43:110–114
Shalhoub D, Abdel-Latif A, Fredericks CM, Mathur S, Rust PF: Physiological integrity of human sperm in the presence ofUreaplasma urealyticum. Arch Androl 1986;6:75–80
Riedel HH, Langenbucher H, Mettler L: Significance of sperm bacteriology for the in vitro fertilization of human and mouse oocytes. J Reprod Med 1986;31:605–608
Quinn PA, Shewchuk AB, Shuber J, Lie KL, Ryan E, Sheu M, Chipman ML: Serologic evidence ofUreaplasma urealyticum infection in women with spontaneous pregnancy loss. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1983;145:245–250
Naessens A, Foulon WM, Cammu H, Goosens A, Lauwers S: Epidemiology and pathogenesis ofUreaplasma urealyticum in spontaneous abortion and early preterm labor. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1987;66:513–516
McDonald HM, O'Loughlin JA, Jolley P, Vigneswaran R, McDonald PJ: Prenatal microbiological risk factors associated with preterm birth. Br J Obstet Gynecol 1992;99:190–196
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Witkin, S.S., Kligman, I., Grifo, J.A. et al. Ureaplasma urealyticum andMycoplasma hominis detected by the polymerase chain reaction in the cervices of women undergoingin vitro fertilization: Prevalence and consequences. J Assist Reprod Genet 12, 610–614 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212584
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02212584