The Fertility Solution

Antibiotic Therapy: The Fertility Solution

For more information, See Chapter 4 and Chapter 5 in The Fertility Solution

Conditions where Antibiotic Therapy is used as the First Line of Therapy to Reverse an Infertility Condition:

1.) Any kind of symptomatic genital tract infection, either in the male or the female. Our clinical experience shows that fertility has long been compromised by the time a bacterial contamination in the genital-canal reaches a symptomatic level.

Infection in the male, such as: orchitis, epididymitis, prostatitis or urethritis; or infection in the female, such as: Bartholin duct infection, symptomatic vaginitis, profuse cervical infection, endometriosis, or symptomatic pelvic inflammatory disease; are first treated with antibiotics prior to commencing a fertility workup or fertility drug regimens.

2.) Asymptomatic patients where there is laboratory evidence of genital tract infection, such as white blood cells in the seminal fluid, excess white blood cells with bacterial vaginosis (discharge), colposcopically documented chronic cervicitis and endometrial biopsy showing acute or chronic endometritis, sonographic or hysterosalpingographic evidence of inflammatory tubal disease.

3.) A history of old, especially recurring genital tract infection, such as prostatitis in the male and pelvic inflammatory disease in the female.

Our clinical experience shows that after an acute, infectious episode in the male or female, certain bacteria remain in the genital-tract even after a treatment resulting in an asymptomatic state.

4.) A history of primary or multiple miscarriages either in the current or previous relationship.

Since over fifty percent of our patients, following primary or multiple miscarriages, carry to term following antibiotic therapy only, antibiotic therapy is usually our first therapeutic approach.

5.) A history of ectopic pregnancies.

Due to the fact that pelvic inflammatory disease with the explosion of sexually transmitted diseases is the number one cause of ectopic pregnancies, evaluation and treatment of a patient recently experiencing such a pregnancy, should start with bacteria testing and subsequent antibiotic therapy prior to choosing other options. If and when spontaneous pregnancies are planned following an ectopic pregnancy, ample time should be allowed to pass following a comprehensive, broad spectrum antibiotic therapy course to allow tubal regeneration.

6.) Cases where secondary infertility is the main problem.

That is, the first pregnancy occurred with relative ease with or without a successful delivery. A significant number of these cases in our experience are caused by secondary uterine or tubal contamination with bacterial flora either coming from the seminal fluid or bacteria previously existing only in the lower, genital canal of the female in the vaginal tract. The presence of these bacteria initiate an infertility condition mediated either through the immune system or through the direct effect of bacterial toxins. An especially fruitful outcome can be expected with the use of antibiotics following the first pregnancy. If the results of the postcoital test are poor it may suggest cervical involvement; a changing menstrual flow pattern with increased or decreased menstrual pain pattern may suggest uterine involvement; or luteal phase defect with increased PMS symptoms may suggest ovarian involvement. If immune system involvement is not significant, a complete recovery of the abnormal reproductive tract function can be expected.

7.) Unknown causes of Infertility.

Given normal numerical parameters, without documented immunological interference with fertility, some couples are classified as suffering from infertility of unknown etiology. Due to the stubborn nature of anaerobic bacteria and the notorious difficulty in isolating some of the sensitive strains, we prefer a course of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with anaerobic bacterial coverage first before suggesting other fertility procedures such as fertility drugs, inseminations or an IVF procedure.