The effect of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection on ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcomes among infertile women in China.

BACKGROUND

Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is common among patients with infertility, yet its effects on ovarian reserve function and pregnancy outcomes in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of LTBI on ovarian reserve and clinical pregnancy outcomes in infertile women treated with ART.

METHODS

A total of 429 infertile female patients undergoing ART were enrolled in this study. Based on QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-Plus) results, patients were divided into LTBI and non-LTBI groups. Ovarian reserve markers and pregnancy outcomes were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

Women in the LTBI group exhibited significantly lower anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels than those in the non-LTBI group (3.42 ± 2.20 vs. 4.53 ± 3.30, p < 0.05). Although the LTBI group showed a lower clinical pregnancy rate (57.14% vs. 68.58%, p = 0.075), as well as reduced biochemical pregnancy rates (69.84% vs. 75.41%) and an increased rate of ectopic pregnancy (5.26% vs. 1.19%), these differences did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings indicate that LTBI in women undergoing ART is associated with a significantly diminished ovarian reserve, as evidenced by lower AMH levels, and may potentially lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, although these outcomes did not differ significantly between the groups.