FEMALE GENITAL INFECTION AND INFERTILITY IN WEST ALGERIA

Introduction: Women suffering from genital infection are most of the time asymptomatic, and even if most of the infections are easy to identify and treat, failure to treat the pathogens increases the risk of infertility and abnormal pregnancy. The objective of the present study was to identify the role of 4 different pathogens: “Chlamydia trachomatis, Candida albicans, Gardnerella vaginalis and Trichomonas vaginalis”. In female infertility.

Methods: This study was conducted in two regions of Algeria SidiBel Abbes and Oran for a period of 6 months and included 174 women. A survey was conducted on every patient to collect information about their clinical history and demographic characteristics. The clinical exam was conducted by a professional gynecologist.

Results: Chlamydia trachomatis was found in 47.1% of infertile women. Chlamydia trachomatis was found in 65.9% of women with primary infertility and 34.1% in women with secondary infertility. We also found that 23.0% of women suffering from infertility had Candida albicans, 4.02% women had Gardnerella vaginalis, 2.3%, women had Trichomonas vaginalis and 23.6% women had no infection. 26.4% of women were asymptomatic, 56.0% of women with Chlamydia were nulliparous and only 17.0% were multiparous, 14.6% women with Chlamydia had a history of an abortion.

Conclusion: The present study reveals a high rate of infection in infertile women suffering from primary infertility. This means that genital infections could be a risk factor for infertility and that screening for that type of infection is highly recommended.