Microbiological assessment of the cervix in patients with Infertility

Abstract

Background: Diagnostic laparoscopy is the standard procedure performed as the final test in the infertility work up before progressing to infertility treatment, but it was found that laparoscopy may increase the risk of pelvic infection which is one of the causes of infertility either in men or women.
Objectives: To assess the cervix microbiologically in patients who were planned to have diagnostic laparoscopy as part of infertility investigations.
Patients and methods: A cross sectional study done at department of obstetrics & gynecology, Baghdad teaching hospital, Medical city, Baghdad, Iraq in 2013, over a period of 7 months, cervical swabs were taken from 30 women complaining of infertility, just before diagnostic laparoscopy was done for them. For these swabs; gram stain, culture for bacteria, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) technique for detection of Chlamydial infection, and direct microscopical examination for Trichomonal infection were done.
Results: We noticed higher percentage of cervical infections in patients who had past history of cervical cauterization, dilatation and curettage and / or hysterosalpingography.
Conclusion: Cervical swab for bacteriology before any uterine instrumentation should be done as a routine investigation.