Assessment of Mycoplasmas and Infertility and the Effect of Doxycycline

Abstract

The role of T-mycoplasmas as pathogens of the urinary and genital systems is still largely undetermined. SHEPARD (1954) first isolated T-mycoplasmas from patients with non-gonococcal urethritis, and since then some surveys have suggested a causal relationship SHEPARD (1960), CSONKA ET AL.(1966), whilst other surveys have not supported this view. TAYLOR-ROBINSON ET AL (1969). With regard to women, marked variation in carriage rate have been noted; with a possible relationship to sexual activity. ARCHER (1968) studied 100 pregnant women, 94 women attending an Infertility Clinic, 98 women in a Geriatric Unit, and 106 nuns in an enclosed order, and found carriage rates of 58,51, 29 and 8 per cent respectively. Similarly, MÅRDH & WESTRÖM (1968) found that the carriage of T-mycoplasmas was significantly higher in pregnancy. (68.4% against 45.8% and 55.4% in non-pregnant females and females with signs of genital infection respectively). The possibility of an association between low birth weight and T-mycoplasma infection during pregnancy was considered and investigated by KLEIN ET AL(1969)and investigated and confir ed by BRAUN ET AL(1971) KUNDSIN & DRISCOLL(1970)postulated an aetiological role for T-mycoplasma in human reproductive failure and premature birth. A pathogenic role for genital mycoplasmas was demonstrated by SOLOMAN ET Al(1973)in a review of 11 cases of gynaecological sepsis, 3 due to T-strains, and the remainder M.hominis.