Endometritis and infertility

Abstract

Endometrial biopsy is an essential tool in the evaluation of the infertile couple. Among the various causes of infertility which may be elucidated by such a biopsy, endometritis plays a significant role. In this review endometritis has been subdivided into three distinct pathologic entities: acute, chronic, and fibrotic. Detailed histologic features are discussed separately for each of these varieties. Most of the acute inflammations of the endometrium are cauased by bacteria. They are usually of short duration, respond well to treatment, and only rarely are associated with long-standing infertility. Chronic endometritis, on the other hand, can be caused by a variety of agents such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. However, in the majority of cases with chronic endometritis the etiology cannot be determined and these are then considered nonspecific. Tuberculous endometritis, which is discussed under the heading of chronic endometritis, constitutes a common cause of infertility in certain countries but much less so in the United States. Other less common conditions such as mycoplasma infection and cytomegalic virus infection, have also been associated with reproductive failure. However, chronic endometritis, especially the most common so-called nonspecific type, is a relatively uncommon cause of infertility. The syndrome of intrauterine adhesions or synechiae has been classified here as fibrotic endometritis because of the pathogenesis and histopathology of this lesion. This entity is commonly associated with infertility and may constitute the end result of a long-standing inflammatory process in the endometrium. The diagnosis of endometritis is not a simple one and necessitates close cooperation between the clinician and pathologist. Pertinent clinical and detailed histopathologic data have to be exchanged between the treating physician and pathologist, especially in cases of infertility, in order for the patient to have benefit from the examination of endometrial tissue obtained.