Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in infertile women and their husbands

Background: Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum microorganisms may play a role in infertility. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum microorganisms in infertile women and their husbands.

Methods: In this Cross-sectional study presence of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum were examined in infertile couples who have been referred to infertility clinics (Avicenna Institute in Tehran) by gynecologists. Referred patients with cervical smear and their husbands with semen fluid culture were asked to fill in a questionnaire. The samples were sent to microbiology laboratories. Data were analyzed using SPSS and Chi-square, Mann‑Whitney and T‑test methods.

Results: 56 infertile women and their husbands were studied and compared. The average age in subjects was 30.41 year and their marriage age was 22.96 year. Prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis in women was 27.39% (22 out of 56) and in their husbands was19.64% (11). Prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum in women was 58.92% (33) and in their husbands was 46.42% (26). There was no statistically significant difference between the infection and patient age, marriage age, educational levels and infertility duration.

Conclusion:This study showed a high prevalence of mycoplasma hominis and ureaplasma urealyticum infection in both infertile women and their husbands. However, the prevalence of infections in women was higher than their husbands.  We concluded that treatment of infected women is necessary and further studies are required  to be done to better understand the role of these infections in infertility of women.