Influence of infertility-associated autoantibodies and sexually transmitted infections on implantation success rates after ICSI.

OBJECTIVE

Preimplantation genetic testing improves rates of assisted reproductive technologies success by selecting euploid embryos, reducing implantation failures and miscarriages. However, some factors in women may also impact outcomes, though systematic studies on autoantibodies and implantation success are lacking. In this study, we determined the presence of specific autoantibodies related to infertility and specific antibodies to sexually transmitted infections pathogens among women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection including preimplantation genetic testing and investigated their effect on implantation success.

METHODS

Plasma samples from 86 women undergoing in vitro fertilization procedures by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and preimplantation genetic testing were tested for the presence of specific autoantibodies against the ovaries, placenta, uterus, and sperm as well as specific antibodies against Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Treponema pallidum, Chlamydia Trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus 1 and Herpes simplex virus 2. The prevalences of these antibodies were compared between women with successful versus unsuccessful implantation after embryo transfer.

RESULTS

The prevalence of anti-Ureaplasma urealyticum antibodies was significantly higher (Fisher's exact test, p=0.028) in women with unsuccessful implantation after intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures (62.0%), compared to women with successful implantation (36.1%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicate that a past infection with Ureaplasma urealyticum might lead to an increased risk for implantation failure after intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedures. Thus, the detection of IgG antibodies against Ureaplasma urealyticum could potentially be used in the future to identify women with an increased risk for implantation failure. However, our findings need to be confirmed in larger cohorts.