[Frequency of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in couples with fertility problems]. / Frecuencia de infección por Trichomonas vaginalis en parejas con trastornos de la fertilidad.

One-hundred and seventy two couples which went for the first time to the Infertility Service of the National Institute of Endocrinology from June 1999 to June 2000, were studied to find out the frequency of Trichomonas vaginalis infection in this group, and determine its interaction with a number of clinical and risk variables. The results yielded that 10.5% were positive to the parasite, the prevailing symptom was leukorrea in women and 96.6% of men showed no symptoms. It was highly significant the fact of having a previous pathological history that might be related to infertility and current T. vaginalis infection. This protozoon was frequently associated with Candida sp. and causative agents of bacterial vaginosis in women and Haemophilus influenzae in men. This parasite seems to play an important role as a likely causative agent to be considered in fertility problems.