Profiling the Bacterial Infection-Infertility Nexus Among Clinical Populations of Tripoli-Libya

Infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of regular unprotected intercourse, or six months for women aged 35 years and older. It can be defined as the inability to achieve pregnancy without medical intervention. Affecting 15% of couples globally, bacterial infections can contribute to infertility, affecting one in seven couples in the West and one in four in developing nations. Infertility rates can reach 30% in regions such as South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. Various factors, such as congenital and hormonal disorders, lifestyle changes, stress, and environmental factors, can contribute to infertility. This study aimed to examine the link between infertility and bacterial infection in Tripoli, Libya, by analysing medical records from the National Infertility Centre and private labs. It seeks to identify the most common bacteria associated with fertility issues and assess the impact of bacterial infections on infertility, considering factors such as PCOS. The prevalence of infertility in both men and women was also determined. A total of 302 medical files of 151 males and 151 females from 2023-2024 were analyzed. Risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking were also explored across different age groups. Statistical analysis using SPSS software revealed the relationship between infertility and bacterial infections, which are presented in tables, frequencies, and P-values. However, this study revealed that 80.1% of the studied patients were infertile. Of the infertile cases, 39.4% had bacterial infections, 19.9% were not infertile, and 123 (40.7%) had non-bacterial infections or infertility. Based on the collected data, this study concluded a strong correlation between infertility and bacterial infection in males (81.5%) compared to females (18.4%), with a P-value (<0.05).