Serological investigation of Mycoplasma genitalium in infertile women

BACKGROUND: The role of Mycoplasma genitalium in the pathogenesis of pelvic inflammatory disease has not been characterized. METHODS: Sera from 308 in fertile women were investigated for antibodies to M. genitalium by immunobl otting. Women with tubal factor infertility (TFI) made up 132 of the patien ts, 67 of the women had an infertile male partner and 109 were infertile fo r unknown reasons. RESULTS: Of the TFI patients 29 (22.0%) were seropositiv e to the major adhesin, MgPa, of M. genitalium versus 11 (6.3%) in the grou p of women with normal tubes. No cross-reactions between MgPa and P1 of the related Mycoplasma pneumoniae were found. Besides, MgPa positive sera were confirmed by immunoblotting using a cloned fragment of the C-terminal part of MgPa specific to M. genitalium. Chlamydia trachomatis is known to be ab le to cause infertility as a result of salpingitis. Therefore, the sera wer e tested against C. trachomatis using a commercial ELISA test. Seventy-five (56.8%) of the TFI patients were seropositive to C. trachomatis. Eight (27 .6%) TFI patients seropositive to MgPa were negative to C. trachomatis. CON CLUSIONS: This study indicates that M. genitalium may be an independent ris k factor in the development of an inflammatory process leading to scarring of the uterine tubes in women and thereby causing infertility.