Investigation of the presence of Trichomonas vaginalis in infertile Turkish women

Abstract

Abstract Background Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted vaginal infection caused by a protozoan called Trichomonas vaginalis. Its prevalence ranges between 3–40% among randomly tested women. Objectives To investigate the presence of T. vaginalis in infertile women presenting to a Turkish gynecology outpatient clinic using parasitological methods. Methods The study population comprised 51 patient participants who attended the gynecology clinic of Mustafa Kemal University Hospital between March and August 2013. The women were divided into those presenting with infertility (n = 22) and a patient control group (n = 29). Women in the control group had complaints other than infertility. Microscopic examination, Giemsa staining, and cysteine-peptone-liver-maltose culture were performed on samples taken from posterior fornix tested for T. vaginalis. Results T. vaginalis was observed in 18% (n = 4) of infertile patients and in none of the control group (P = 0.03). Conclusions Asymptomatic infertile women should be examined for T. vaginalis infection, which may play a role as a cause or contributing factor in infertility.