The Prevalence of Bacterial Vaginosis among Infertile Iraqi Women and Subsequent ICSI outcome

Saja F. Faisal; Wasan A. Abdul Hameed; Sarab H. Abdulhussain; Estabraq Alwasiti

doi:10.28969/IJEIR.v13.i2.r6.23

Authors

Saja F. Faisal High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Al Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Wasan A. Abdul Hameed High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Al Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Sarab H. Abdulhussain The High Institute for Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies
Estabraq Alwasiti Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Al Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1291-0656

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.28969/IJEIR.v13.i2.r6.23

Keywords:

Bacterial vaginosis, Vaginal microbiota, Gardnerella vaginalis, ICSI

Abstract

The vaginal microbial makeup has a substantial impact on women's health.
The typical vaginal microbial profile in healthy women of reproductive age
comprises aerobic, facultatively anaerobic, as well as obligately anaerobic
organisms. However, the optimal vaginal microbiota is dominated by
lactobacilli and is thought to defend against pathogenic microbial colonization
and infection by producing lactic acid, antimicrobial metabolites, and
lowering immune system activation. Recent research has come up with the
term "molecular bacterial vaginosis (BV)" to describe non-optimal vaginal
microbiota that is low in Lactobacillus species (spp.) and has a lot of
facultative and absolute anaerobic bacteria specifically Gardnerella vaginalis.
In the context of IVF, BV has been linked to infertility. The study comprised
forty-six women to explore the vaginal and follicular microbiota of
asymptomatic infertile Iraqi women starting an ICSI trial. At the time of ova
pick-up, a high vaginal swab and follicular fluid were acquired from each
instance for DNA extraction to test for the presence of microorganisms by the
use of a real-time PCR special commercial kit. In conclusion, molecular
technologies have offered a more thorough view into the vaginal microbiota,
which may explain why vaginal dysbiosis shifts during the ICSI-ET
treatment. Even though the majority of women have no clinically visible
infection, the fact is that they have an aberrant vaginal micro-ecology profile.
Nevertheless, isolating microorganisms from follicular fluid did not reduce
the likelihood of fertilization or the pregnancy rate during ICSI cycles.

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