Herpes simplex virus infection of the uterine cervix - relationship with acervical factor?

Objective: To determine the prevalence of genital herpes simplex virus (HSV ) in women of reproductive age and to evaluate a potential relation of asym ptomatic HSV shedding with a cervical factor. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Outpatient infertility clinic of a university hospital. Patient(s): Randomly chosen asymptomatic women (n = 1,262) with a median ag e of 30 years. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Prevalence of cervical HSV, cervical index paramet ers, and other variables of CM quality, including CM penetrability in vivo and in vitro. Result(s): The prevalence of HSV infection of the uterine cervix was 5.2% ( identified with cell culture). There was a tendency toward increased viscos ity of the CM in HSV-positive women, but no significant relation with the o ther variables of CM quality (amount, spinnbarkeit, ferning, cervical appea rance, and cellularity of the CM), or with the summarized. Insler score or the cervical index according to World Health Organization guidelines. Postc oital testing and the in vitro penetration test, using either partners' or donors' semen, showed that the penetrability of the CM did not differ signi ficantly between women with and without cervical HSV shedding. Asymptomatic cervical HSV infection was not significantly associated with bacterial col onization of the lower genital tract, with leukocyte counts in cervical sec retions, with the pH of the. CM or the vaginal fluid, or with antisperm ant ibodies in the CM. Conclusion(s): The results suggest that in asymptomatic women under control led endocrine conditions, cervical HSV infection is not a significant cause of impaired quality and penetrability of the CM. (Fertil Steril(R) 2000;73 :248-57. (C) 2000 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)