Correlation between bacterial vaginosis and the presence of antisperm antibodies in women experiencing unexplained infertility: a cross-sectional study

Correlation between bacterial vaginosis and the presence of antisperm antibodies in women experiencing unexplained infertility: a cross-sectional study | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Correlation between bacterial vaginosis and the presence of antisperm antibodies in women experiencing unexplained infertility: a cross-sectional study Mike-Antoine Maindo Alongo, Jean-Jeanot Juakali Sihalikyolo, Noël Labama Otuli, and 5 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8128045/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and antisperm antibodies (ASA) are recognised contributors to infertility, yet their combined involvement in unexplained infertility remains insufficiently documented. Their combined influence on unexplained infertility (UI) remains inadequately documented. This study aimed to examine the relationship between BV, its associated pathogens, and ASA in women with UI in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from August to November 2023 among 523 infertile couples who had completed the standard investigations. One hundred and forty-four women met the criteria for UI. ASA were detected using a rapid diagnostic test, followed by an indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction test when positive. BV was diagnosed using Nugent scoring. Vaginal pathogens were identified with the VITEK 2 Compact system. Associations were evaluated using the chi-square test, Phi coefficient, and logistic regression models. Results In the full infertile cohort, bacterial vaginosis was significantly linked to ASA positivity (p < 0.001, Phi = 0.383). This association was stronger among women with UI (p < 0.001, Phi = 0.879). In multivariable analysis, ASA were independently associated with Atopobium vaginae (aOR 15.08 [3.30-68.89]), Gardnerella vaginalis (aOR 6.31 [2.09–19.08]), Mobiluncus species (aOR 3.24 [1.07–9.82]), Mycoplasma hominis (aOR 3.60 [1.11–11.68]), and Prevotella timonensis (aOR 3.88 [1.28–11.74]). Conclusion BV and several of its core pathogens show strong associations with ASA in women with UI. These findings support an infection-immune pathway that may contribute to infertility and emphasise the importance of combining microbiological and immunological tests in infertility assessments, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies to clarify temporal relationships. Antisperm antibodies Bacterial vaginosis unexplained infertility Kisangani Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8128045","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":561431856,"identity":"ef3c3f6e-2ed1-46bd-b9ed-bee755da0de8","order_by":0,"name":"Mike-Antoine Maindo 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antibodies in women experiencing unexplained infertility: a cross-sectional study\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Antisperm antibodies, Bacterial vaginosis, unexplained infertility, Kisangani","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8128045/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8128045/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eIntroduction:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBacterial vaginosis (BV) and antisperm antibodies (ASA) are recognised contributors to infertility, yet their combined involvement in unexplained infertility remains insufficiently documented. Their combined influence on unexplained infertility (UI) remains inadequately documented. This study aimed to examine the relationship between BV, its associated pathogens, and ASA in women with UI in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from August to November 2023 among 523 infertile couples who had completed the standard investigations. One hundred and forty-four women met the criteria for UI. ASA were detected using a rapid diagnostic test, followed by an indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction test when positive. BV was diagnosed using Nugent scoring. Vaginal pathogens were identified with the VITEK 2 Compact system. Associations were evaluated using the chi-square test, Phi coefficient, and logistic regression models.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn the full infertile cohort, bacterial vaginosis was significantly linked to ASA positivity (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, Phi\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.383). This association was stronger among women with UI (p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001, Phi\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.879). In multivariable analysis, ASA were independently associated with \u003cem\u003eAtopobium vaginae\u003c/em\u003e (aOR 15.08 [3.30-68.89]), \u003cem\u003eGardnerella vaginalis\u003c/em\u003e (aOR 6.31 [2.09\u0026ndash;19.08]), \u003cem\u003eMobiluncus species\u003c/em\u003e (aOR 3.24 [1.07\u0026ndash;9.82]), \u003cem\u003eMycoplasma hominis\u003c/em\u003e (aOR 3.60 [1.11\u0026ndash;11.68]), and \u003cem\u003ePrevotella timonensis\u003c/em\u003e (aOR 3.88 [1.28\u0026ndash;11.74]).\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBV and several of its core pathogens show strong associations with ASA in women with UI. These findings support an infection-immune pathway that may contribute to infertility and emphasise the importance of combining microbiological and immunological tests in infertility assessments, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies to clarify temporal relationships.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Correlation between bacterial vaginosis and the presence of antisperm antibodies in women experiencing unexplained infertility: a cross-sectional study","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-18 23:32:03","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8128045/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"5cb633b5-5ef2-4b0a-b017-1a002a7443f6","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 18th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-03-17T02:55:48+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-18 23:32:03","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8128045","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8128045","identity":"rs-8128045","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}