Genital tuberculosis, infertility and assisted reproduction.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this review is to familiarize a global readership on the subtilities of clinical presentation and the mayhem that a missed diagnosis of genital tuberculosis (GTB) is capable of inflicting on the health and wellbeing of infertile women with untreated GTB attempting to conceive with assisted reproductive technology (ART). RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging and recent literature relating to the epidemiology and clinical presentation of GTB and reporting of unique risks of ART for maternal and fetal morbidity in untreated cases of GTB are reviewed. Evidence relating to a broadening spectrum of screening methodologies for GTB detection of GTB is additionally considered. SUMMARY: Genital TB must be considered as a mechanism for couple's infertility in at-risk populations. Attempting to treat female GTB-related infertility with in-vitro fertilization poses unique and potentially life-threatening risks, both to the mother and to the conceptus; these risks can be avoided through vigilance, appropriate screening and timely treatment prior to proceeding with IVF.

In vitro fertilization outcome in women with endometrial tuberculosis and tubal tuberculosis.

Purpose: To evaluate in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome in women with genital tuberculosis (GTB).Methods: One hundred and fifty-five women with genital tuberculosis constituted the study group (Group A), consisting of 25 patients with endometrial tuberculosis (Group A1) and 130 patients with tubal tuberculosis (Group A2). Women with non-tuberculous tubal infertility were matched by age and study period served as controls (Group B).Results: Patients with GTB had significantly reduced endometrial thickness, high-quality embryos rate, implantation rate as compared with controls (p < .05), no differences were found in other pregnancy parameters. In addition, the endometrial thickness, fertilization rate, high-quality embryos rate and implantation rate were also significantly lower in women with endometrial tuberculosis as compared with controls. And the cumulative pregnancy rate in endometrial tuberculosis was significantly decreased compared with tubal tuberculosis and controls (p < .05). However, IVF/ICSI pregnancy outcomes in patients with tubal tuberculosis showed no difference as compared with controls (p > .05). Also, rates of miscarriage, preterm birth, obstetrical complications, and neonatal problems did not differ among three groups.Conclusions: In conclusion, IVF/ICSI-ET remains the most optimal method for the treatment of female infertility associated with tubal tuberculosis. However, patients with endometrium tuberculosis showed significantly reduced fertilization, implantation and cumulative pregnancy rates.

Genital tuberculosis in females.

The morbidity and mortality due to tuberculosis (TB) is high worldwide, and the burden of disease among women is significant, especially in developing countries. Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli reach the genital tract primarily by haematogenous spread and dissemination from foci outside the genitalia with lungs as the common primary focus. Genital TB in females is a chronic disease with low-grade symptoms. The fallopian tubes are affected in almost all cases of genital TB, and along with endometrial involvement, it causes infertility in patients. Many women present with atypical symptoms which mimic other gynaecological conditions. A combination of investigations is needed to establish the diagnosis of female genital TB (FGTB). Multidrug anti-TB treatment is the mainstay of management and surgery may be required in advanced cases. Conception rates are low among infertile women with genital TB even after multidrug therapy for TB, and the risk of complications such as ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage is high. More research is needed on the changing trends in the prevalence and on the appropriate methods for diagnosis of FGTB.

[Masks of urogenital tuberculosis as the cause of diagnostic errors].

Urogenital tuberculosis does not have pathognomonic symptoms, so diagnostic errors are quite common. This systematic review of literature was conducted to identify the causes and estimate the incidence of erroneous diagnoses. We critically evaluated some articles in which the authors describe observations of urogenital tuberculosis as rare and unusual because they never encountered this disease, but in fact that were typical manifestations of genitourinary tuberculosis. The authors analyzed and illustrated the features of urinary tuberculosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, differential diagnosis of urogenital tuberculosis and kidney cancer and male genitourinary organs, described errors in the diagnosis of urethral, testicular, penile, prostatic and epididymal tuberculosis. Urolithiasis was described as a mask and concomitant disease of urogenital tuberculosis. Really rare forms of bladder tuberculosis as the cause of diagnostic errors are described. Examples of fatal outcomes of urogenital tuberculosis are given. The authors analyzed cases of granulomatous interstitial nephritis due to tuberculosis infection and tuberculosis of the renal artery as the cause of renovascular hypertension. The most common causes of late diagnosis of urogenital tuberculosis are the absence of a typical pattern and the tendency to manifest under the guise of other diseases.

Genital tuberculosis in the infertile women - an update.

Tuberculosis is endemic in many developing countries of the world including Bangladesh. Genital tuberculosis is a significant cause of infertility in the women of these countries. The diagnosis of genital tuberculosis in infertile women is difficult as most of the cases are usually asymptomatic. A high index of clinical suspicion is required. Genital tuberculosis always affects the fallopian tubes. It affects the endometrium in half of the cases. In addition to tuberculin skin tests and interferon gamma release assays, procedures like hysterosalpingography, laparoscopy-dye test, endometrial curettage and laparoscopy with multiple sampling for smear microscopy and culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis can detect the cases. In recent years diagnosis has been improved by polymerase chain reaction targeted against mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. Following early diagnosis, treatment with anti-tubercular drugs is favourable for fertility only when tubal and endometrial damage is minimal. In cases where the organs are more severely involved the outcome is poor even with in- vitro fertilization.

ATYPICAL TUBERCULOSIS PRESENTING WITH PRIMARY INFERTILITY AND ENDOMETRIAL CALCIFICATION.

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. It remains a public health concern especially in developing country. Pulmonary infection is the main presentation. However, genitourinary TB is common especially with the increase in Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Genitourinary TB is one of the most common causes of extrapulmonary tuberculosis which affects 12% patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. It is common in women less than 40 years of age and rarely occurs in post-menopausal. Therefore it is more likely to affect women in reproductive years leading to infertility. Fallopian tube involvement in genital TB is at least 95-100% of cases and is mainly from haematological spread and this leads to infertility. This is a case of a woman who presented a diagnosis of primary infertility and tuberculous endometritis with endometrial calcification.

Female genital tuberculosis: a review.

Female genital tuberculosis is an uncommon type of tuberculosis that can lead to infertility. The present review describes the disease, reports available epidemiological data, and focuses on examinations and procedures necessary for the early diagnosis and the management of this curable disease.

Tubercular endometritis visualized as endometrial micropolyps during hysteroscopic procedure.

Female genital tuberculosis is a rare disease in developed countries but it is a frequent cause of chronic pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility in undeveloped countries. A rare case of tubercular endometritis diagnosed at hysteroscopy and successfully treated in a woman with secondary infertility, is presented. As far as we know this is the first case that shows the association between endometrial micropolyps and tubercular endometritis.

Etiopathogenesis, Challenges and Remedies Associated With Female Genital Tuberculosis: Potential Role of Nuclear Receptors.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is recognized mainly as a secondary manifestation of a primary tuberculosis (TB) infection in the lungs contributing to a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The TB bacilli upon reactivation maneuver from the primary site disseminating to other organs. Diagnosis and treatment of EPTB remains challenging due to the abstruse positioning of the infected organs and the associated invasiveness of sample acquisition as well as misdiagnosis, associated comorbidities, and the inadequacy of biomarkers. Female genital tuberculosis (FGTB) represents the most perilous form of EPTB leading to poor uterine receptivity (UR), recurrent implantation failure and infertility in females. Although the number of TB cases is reducing, FGTB cases are not getting enough attention because of a lack of clinical awareness, nonspecific symptoms, and inappropriate diagnostic measures. This review provides an overview for EPTB, particularly FGTB diagnostics and treatment challenges. We emphasize the need for new therapeutics and highlight the need for the exaction of biomarkers as a point of care diagnostic. Nuclear receptors have reported role in maintaining UR, immune modulation, and TB modulation; therefore, we postulate their role as a therapeutic drug target and biomarker that should be explored in FGTB.

An update on lower urinary tract tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis of the genitourinary tract presents with atypical manifestations. Only 20% to 30% of patients with genitourinary tuberculosis have a history of pulmonary infection. Tuberculosis often affects the lower genitourinary system rather than the kidney. Tuberculosis of the lower genitourinary tract most commonly affects the epididymis and the testis, followed by bladder, ureter, prostate, and penis. Use of bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy for bladder cancer can cause symptomatic tubercular infections of the lower genitourinary tract. Tuberculosis of the lower genitourinary tract can present with irritative voiding symptoms, hematuria, epididymo-orchitis, prostatitis, and fistulas. Tuberculosis of the seminal vesicles, vas, fallopian tubes, and the uterus can cause infertility. Urinalysis may demonstrate sterile pyuria, hematuria, or albuminuria. Identification of acid-fast bacilli in culture or tissue or by polymerase chain reaction studies is diagnostic. Medical treatment may not result in resolution of symptoms. Surgical intervention and reconstruction of the urinary tract are frequently indicated.

Latent pelvic tuberculosis reactivating in a postmenopausal woman: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis most often affects the pulmonary system; however, 8-15% of cases infect the genitourinary system. The primary treatment of uterine tuberculosis is medical therapy, and only when that fails is surgical intervention warranted. CASE: A 75-year-old woman presented with chronic back pain and fatigue. She had been on prednisone for 9 years for autoimmune hepatitis and had earlier exposure to tuberculosis. Evaluation led to the diagnosis of uterine tuberculosis. The patient was unable to tolerate a full course of antituberculin therapy, so she underwent an abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. CONCLUSION: We believe the patient had latent uterine tuberculosis that was reactivated from her chronic steroid use. If she had a purified protein derivative test prior to the start of prednisone therapy, latent tuberculosis may have been diagnosed and treated before she developed a clinically active infection.

Epidemiology of genital tuberculosis in infertile population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of genital tuberculosis in infertile women, its clinical presentation and association with socio-economic status and geographical latitude and to compare various modes of diagnosis and efficacy of therapy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Gynaecology and Obstetric Department (Unit Ill), Federal Government Services Hospital, Islamabad for a period of two years, from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003. A protocol for fertility work-up included complete history, examination, monitoring of ovulation and assessment of male factor. During laparoscopy peritoneal fluid was obtained for cytology and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining in suspicious cases of chronic inflammation was carried out. Endometrial curettings were obtained for histopathology and culture in Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium. After confirmation of diagnosis, anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) was started. Surgical management was done in advanced stage disease with tubo-ovarian masses. RESULTS: Out of 7628 patients who attended the gynae out-patient department, 534 (7%) women were infertile, of which 2.43% had genital tuberculosis. Six patients had early stage disease (46.15%) and were completely cured, but three patients had successful pregnancy outcome (23%). Seven had advanced stage disease (53.85%) and required conservative surgery in addition to ATT. Among these patients, although tuberculosis was cured, yet fertility could not be achieved. All patients belonged to low socio-economic class, and 85% belonged to Northern areas of the country, who were poor and deprived of health facilities. CONCLUSION: It is essential for a gynaecologist working in developing countries to anticipate possibility of genital tuberculosis in infertile patients.

Hypertrophic tuberculosis of the vulva.

Hypertrophic tuberculosis vulvae is a rare genital infection. Treatment is essentially with antitubercular drugs. However, when the hypertrophy is so excessive that it interferes with normal life, surgical treatment is necessary. A case is presented in which combined treatment by surgery and antitubercular drugs restored the patient's health.

Endometrial pathology and infertility.

OBJECTIVE: To call attention to endometrial pathologies, which in addition to causing menstrual problems, are a cause of infertility. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Specialized unit in the management of infertile patients. PATIENT(S): Fifteen infertile women between the ages of 26 and 39 years and suffering infertility from endometrial problems for a period of 4 to 18 years were included in the study. Six patients had primary infertility and nine others had secondary infertility. INTERVENTION(S): Once the endometrial pathology was diagnosed, treatment was initiated according to the type of problem: hysteroscopy, curettage, and hormonal replacement with or without corticoids or antiphymic drugs. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Clinical studies, laboratory tests, hormonal serum levels, and endoscopy. RESULT(S): After initiating specific treatment for each of the pathologies, menstruation was re-established in 14 of 15 patients. Nine patients became pregnant (8 of 10 cases with bone, squamous cell, or muscular metaplasia). CONCLUSION(S): Pathological changes of the endometrium are causes of infertility. These problems are not as rare as thought. They must be searched for carefully and diagnosed promptly. The majority carry a good prognosis when adequately treated.

Genital tuberculosis and subsequent fertility.

A successful pregnancy ending in live birth at term is very rare following genital tuberculosis, in spite of effective medical treatment for tuberculosis. The medical, surgical or combined treatments all are associated with relatively poor fertility outcome. In vitro fertilization and embryo replacement have been found to be successful in a few patients.

Infertility and pregnancy outcome in female genital tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence rate, identify risk factors not conducive to pregnancy, and outcomes with regard to follow-up treatment. METHODS: This prospective study was carried out from 1988 to 2001, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack, and in the private clinics of both the authors in Cuttack, India. The incidence of tuberculosis in infertility and tubal factor infertility cases were determined. The incidence of infertility in genital tuberculosis (GT) was examined and a total of 97 cases of infertility with genital tuberculosis were studied. The patients were given short course chemotherapy and prednisolone (wherever feasible). The risk factors not conducive to pregnancy were identified. RESULTS: The incidence of GT in infertility and tubal factor infertility were 3 and 41%, respectively. The incidence of infertility in GT was 58%. All patient were symptom free and no evidence of tuberculosis was detected after the end of the chemotherapy. The risk factors not conducive to pregnancy were secondary amenorrhea, no endometrium on curettage, and negative chromopertubation. The conception rate is low, i.e. 19.2%, the live birth rate being still low, i.e. 7.2%. CONCLUSION: The outcome of infertility in GT is not very optimistic. IVF and ET offers some hope to these unfortunate women.

[Does genital tuberculosis still exist? Current review]. / La tuberculose génitale existe-t-elle encore? Revue récente.

The diagnosis of female pelvic tuberculosis is seldom thought of although it is still an entity. The reason why it is so seldom considered is partly because it has greatly diminished in incidence and also because the population who suffer from it and who are becoming much older move about. Another reason is that the symptomatology has changed, and now most often shows in pure haemorrhagic forms. The authors therefore go over the system of diagnosis and show that treatment is reverting to surgery.

[Current anatomo-clinical aspects of genital tuberculosis in women. Apropos of 49 cases]. / Aspects anatomo-cliniques actuels de la tuberculose génitale de la femme. A propos de 49 cas.

Genital tuberculosis is a rare disease in Anglo-Saxon countries but it is still present in our country in spite of a small reduction in the numbers due to the advent of anti-tuberculous drugs and of BCG. Our study derived from 49 cases histories shows that this is an illness that affects young women who become absolutely infertile. Laparoscopy, hysterosalpingography and biopsy of the endometrium are the most efficient ways to make the diagnosis quickly. While anti-tuberculous treatment given routinely is very good at curing the tuberculous infection, it does not improve the prognosis for fertility. Finally, very few cases are diagnosed on screening and it is important to continue the fight to eradicate this disease. The most effective measure among others is vaccination with BCG.