PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of bacterial vaginal flora on life-birth rate during ICSI and influence of metronidazole as antibiotic treatment course before ICSI. METHOD: We enrolled 71 women who were undergoing ICSI. At embryo transfer (ET), all of the women had quantitative vaginal culture, ET catheter-tip culture, and vaginal Gram stain scored for bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: The overall live birth rate (LBR) was 36.6% (26/71), and the rate of early pregnancy loss was 13% (4/30). In women with bacterial vaginosis, intermediate flora and normal flora, the conception rates were 35% (9/26), 42% (14/33) and 58% (7/12), respectively (p = 0.06 for trend). Metronidazole effect to bacterial flora in vaginal. The predominant species isolated from the tip of the embryo transfer catheter in negative pregnancy was Staphylococcus epidermidis (7 vs. 15.2%), and Streptococcus viridians (11 vs. 24%). CONCLUSIONS: Woman with bacterial vaginosis and with a decreased vaginal concentration of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli may have decreased conception rates and increased rates of failed pregnancy. A larger prospective treatment trial designed to evaluate the impact on ICSI outcomes of optimizing the vaginal flora prior to ICSI may be warranted.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of bacterial vaginal flora on life-birth rate during ICSI and influence of metronidazole as antibiotic treatment course before ICSI. METHOD: We enrolled 71 women who were undergoing ICSI. At embryo transfer (ET), all of the women had quantitative vaginal culture, ET catheter-tip culture, and vaginal Gram stain scored for bacterial vaginosis. RESULTS: The overall live birth rate (LBR) was 36.6% (26/71), and the rate of early pregnancy loss was 13% (4/30). In women with bacterial vaginosis, intermediate flora and normal flora, the conception rates were 35% (9/26), 42% (14/33) and 58% (7/12), respectively (p = 0.06 for trend). Metronidazole effect to bacterial flora in vaginal. The predominant species isolated from the tip of the embryo transfer catheter in negative pregnancy was Staphylococcus epidermidis (7 vs. 15.2%), and Streptococcus viridians (11 vs. 24%). CONCLUSIONS:Woman with bacterial vaginosis and with a decreased vaginal concentration of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli may have decreased conception rates and increased rates of failed pregnancy. A larger prospective treatment trial designed to evaluate the impact on ICSI outcomes of optimizing the vaginal flora prior to ICSI may be warranted.