Genital mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas in cervicovaginal self-collected samples of reproductive-age women: prevalence and risk factors

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Silva, J (Author) Other; Cerqueira, F (Author) Other; Teixeira, AL (Author) Other; Bicho, MC (Author) Other; Campainha, R (Author) Other; Amorim, J (Author) Other; Rui Medeiros (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS

Vol. 29

Pages: 999-1006

ISSN: 0956-4624

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 9 Citations

Scopus - 10 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-MQV

DOI: 10.1177/0956462418774209

Abstract (EN): The purpose of this study was to characterise the prevalence and risk factors associated with genital mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma hominis [MH], M. genitalium [MG]) and ureaplasmas (Ureaplasma urealyticum [UU], U. parvum [UP]) in Portuguese women of reproductive age. The cross-sectional study included 612 cervicovaginal self-collected samples from women aged 15-44 years, tested for MH, MG, UU, UP by polymerase chain reaction. Y chromosome (Yc) DNA was detected as a biomarker of recent unprotected sexual intercourse. The prevalences of UU, UP, MH and MG were 28.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.0-32.1), 22.4% (95% CI 19.3-25.9), 8.5% (95% CI 6.5-11.0) and 0.8% (95% CI 0.4-1.9), respectively. Overall, women aged 20-29 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.78; P=0.010) and the presence of Yc-DNA (OR 2.33; P=0.038) were associated with an increased risk of UU. Lifetime number of sexual partners was a predictor of UU, UP and MH (OR 2.46; P<0.001, OR 2.78; P<0.001 and OR 1.55; P<0.001, respectively, for more than one versus one partner). The prevalence of MG was low, while UU, UP and MH were common in Portuguese women of reproductive age. The presence of UU, UP and MH was associated with sexual activity (number of sexual partners), although the consequences of its prevalence are not fully understood and should be further investigated.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8