Only 13% of the medically assisted procreation cycles (PMA) conclude successfully. The reasons are many, among which there could also be both male and female infections. A timely diagnosis and treatment could however overturn the outcome of the procedures. This is why a team of experts recommends a preventive microbiological diagnosis to infertile couples.

According to Amcli (Association of Italian clinical microbiologists), diagnosing and treating infections would allow many to overcome their infertility. In some cases with the further aid of assisted fertilization, in others even with natural conception.

The main causes of failure of PMA are:

• old age;
• chromosomal alterations and other genetic causes;
• sexually transmitted diseases;
• infections of the genital apparatus.

However, a 15% of cases remain in which the causes of the failure are unknown.

What makes dangerous infections is often a deficiency or lack of symptoms. The subjects are not aware of their presence, so they are not taken into consideration as a possible cause of infertility. This is why microbiological diagnostics is still very much neglected in the process that precedes PMA. This does not happen with other causes, such as age or even genetic abnormalities. However, there is a further problem.

Women are used to undergoing a large number of gynecological investigations. This does not apply to men, who tend to be more wary of both the andrological visits and microbiological examinations. Yet both things could facilitate PMA, if not even help to avoid it altogether.

Source: corriere.it