Research Indicates That Periodontal Pathogen May Hamper Conception
A common pathogen associated with periodontal diseases, Porphyromonas gingivalis, may delay conception in women, note scientists from the University of Helsinki in Finland.
Research Indicates That Periodontal Pathogen May Hamper Conception
A common pathogen associated with periodontal
diseases, Porphyromonas gingivalis,
may delay conception in women, note scientists from the University of Helsinki
in Finland. Published in the Journal of
Oral Microbiology, the study, “Porphyromonas
gingivalis May Interfere With Conception in Women,” examined 256
healthy, non-pregnant women ages 19 to 42. Clinical oral and gynecological
examinations were performed on the subjects, who had all stopped using
contraception in an effort to become pregnant. The subjects were followed for
12 months to determine whether they became pregnant during the observation
period.
The investigators report that P. gingivalis was more frequently
detected in the saliva of women who did not become pregnant by the end of the
follow-up period than those who did. In addition, median levels of salivary P. gingivalis immunoglobulin antibodies were found to be higher
in women who did not become pregnant. Statistical
analysis showed the findings were independent of other risk factors
contributing to conception, such as age, smoking, socioeconomic status,
bacterial vaginosis, previous deliveries, or periodontal diseases.
In addition, the authors note they
did not study if conception (or lack thereof) could be attributed to the
subjects or their spouses, as the “distribution of infertility due to the male
factor is found to range from 20% to 70%.” Despite the study’s
limitations, the researchers assert these findings underscore the importance of regular periodontal
evaluations and maintaining oral health for women trying to conceive.
Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter
August 2017
