Neda Hashemi - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Zahra Soleimani - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background & Objective: The association of Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) and infertility is controversial. There is a doubt regarding the relation between T. vaginalis infection and female infertility. This study is the first meta-analysis that investigated the association between T. vaginalis infection and risk of female infertility. Materials & Methods: Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus were searched using appropriate keywords as major international electronic bibliographic databases up to January ۲۰۲۰. Q-test and I۲ statistic were used for evaluating heterogeneity between studies as well as Begg's and Egger's tests for exploring publication. Results were reported by pooled odds ratio (OR) estimate from individual studies by choosing random-effects model. Results: In total, ۶۵۰ articles were obtained by initial search until January ۲۰۲۰ with ۹۷۷۹ women. Results of the pooled OR estimates showed a significant association between T. vaginalis and infertility in adjusted studies (OR=۱.۹۵; ۹۵% CI: ۱.۴۶, ۲.۴۳). Based on Begg's and Egger's tests, there was no evidence of publication bias (P=۰.۵۳۲ and P=۰.۸۹۶, respectively). Conclusion: There was a significant association between T. vaginalis and female infertility. However, more evidence is necessary to prove the potential association of T. vaginalis with an increased risk of female infertility.

Infertility, Meta-analysis, Trichomonas, Females