Non-Invasive Diagnostics of Reproductive Failure with Infectious Etiology on Menstrual Tissue

Abstract Aim: We investigated the role of bacterial (Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum/ parvum, Mycoplasma hominis/genitalium, Gardnerella vaginalis) and viral (HSV1/2, EBV, CMV, VZV, HHV6/HHV7, HHV8) pathogens, as a potential cause of reproductive failure in women by testing menstrual tissue samples. Materials and methods: We examined DNA extracted from 180 probands selected on the basis of their infertility background. DNA extraction, real-time qPCR, agarose gel-electrophoresis were applied. Results: In 61,1% of all tested menstrual tissue samples of infertile women bacterial and/ or viral pathogens were detected. In 48,8% of all tested samples we found bacterial, while in 22,2% viral pathogens. Ureaplasma parvum and Gardnerella vaginalis were detected in 61,36% and 69,31%, respectively, while Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in equivalent rate 2,27% of the positive for bacterial pathogens samples. HHV7, EBV, HHV6, CMV, HSV2 were detected in 42,5%, 40%, 10%, 7,5%, 2,5% of the positive for viral factors samples. Variable combinations of bacterial and/or viral co-infection were found in 39,9% of all infected patients. Infections with the rest of target pathogens were not detected in the menstrual tissue samples. Conclusions: Our research offers new approach for noninvasive diagnostics of infections in the upper female genital tract by analyzing menstrual tissue as a target biological sample. The detection of asymptomatic bacterial and viral infections or co-infections in female endometrium contributes to the clarification of the infectious etiology of reproductive failure. It is of a great importance for applying of an adequate and individualized therapy.