Do not ignore Mycoplasma genitalium infection, which in severe cases will damage both male and female fertility!
Many infertile couples will be found to have varying degrees of genital tract infections, especially mycoplasma infections. Mycoplasma infection can affect all parts of the genital tract and can also reduce fertility and induce inflammation and immune damage in the genital tract. Mycoplasma infection in men can reduce semen quality, while mycoplasma infection in women can affect the patency of the fallopian tubes, hindering the combination of sperm and egg, leading to infertility.
What are the effects of mycoplasma infection in men and women?
1. Effect on male fertility
(1) Mycoplasma can ascend along the genitourinary tract and attach to multiple genital tract cells, especially the vas deferens, seminal vesicle wall, prostate and epididymal ducts.
(2) The phospholipase on the surface of mycoplasma can directly damage the host cell membrane and disrupt membrane biosynthesis and immune function.
(3) Mycoplasma can induce inflammation of the reproductive tract, disrupt the living environment of sperm, reduce sperm motility, and in severe cases, can induce duct obstruction.
(4) When mycoplasma enters the seminiferous tubules of the testis, it will destroy spermatogenic cells, disrupt the process of meiosis, and also affect the genesis and maturation of spermatogenesis.
(5) Mycoplasma infection activates the apoptosis mechanism of spermatogenic cells, resulting in a decrease in sperm count.
(6) The toxic components of mycoplasma and the metabolic wastes produced can reduce sperm motility and induce asthenozoospermia.
(7) The inflammation caused by mycoplasma will destroy the blood-testicular barrier, stimulate the body to produce anti-sperm antibodies, disrupt the sperm delivery process, and easily cause oligospermia or azoospermia.
2. Impact on female fertility
(1) Mycoplasma adheres to the lining of the fallopian tube, which will denature the ciliated cells and secretory cells, and the metabolites can cause necrosis of mucosal cells, affect the movement of the cilia of the fallopian tube, or promote cilia loss, resulting in lumen narrowing and occlusion.
(2) The persistence of inflammation will cause adhesion or occlusion of the fallopian tubes, and the retention of inflammatory exudate can cause empyema, which will induce hydrosalpinx over time.
(3) Mycoplasma infection will stimulate the body to produce anti-sperm antibodies and anti-endometrial antibodies, so that sperm cannot penetrate the cervical mucus, promote the removal of sperm from the reproductive tract, disrupt sperm capacitation, hinder the combination of sperm and egg, affect the implantation of fertilized eggs, and inhibit the growth and development of implanted embryos.
(4) Mycoplasma infection in women will affect fetal development, resulting in fetal dysplasia or embryo abortion, and may also cause teratogenesis, intrauterine fetal death and premature birth.
Tips:
Mycoplasma infection can affect reproductive health, and once mycoplasma infection is found to be positive, it is necessary to actively cooperate with the doctor to treat it, so as to maximize fertility, reduce the rate of fetal malformations, and preterm birth or miscarriage. Daily attention should be paid to personal hygiene, avoid high-risk sexual behaviors, and actively prevent mycoplasma infection.