Objective(s): To estimate the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis (BV) in infertile women and evaluate the effect of treatment of BV on the pregnancy rate in patients with polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) and unexplained infertility.
Design: Prospective comparative controlled study.
Settings: University hospital
Patient(s): Infertile women (n = 574) with different causes of female infertility and asymptomatic fertile women (n = 189).
Interventions: All participants were screened for BV. Only random samples of patients with PCOD and unexplained infertility who were BV-positive were treated for BV.
Main outcome measure(s): The prevalence of BV in infertile women and the cumulative pregnancy rates (CPR) in patients with PCOD and unexplained infertility.
Result(s): The prevalence of BV was significantly high in infertile than fertile women (45.6% vs 15.4%). The highest prevalence was found in patients with PCOD and unexplained infertility. The CPR was significantly higher in the patients who were treated for BV. Regression analysis model showed that BV was one of the significant factors interfering with pregnancy.
Conclusion(s): BV is strongly implicated in female infertility and it is probably underestimated cause of unexplained infertility. Screening and treatment of BV in patients with PCOD and unexplained infertility improved the pregnancy rate considerably.