Periodontal and caries status in unexplained female infertility: A case-control study

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between maternal periodontal disease and dental caries that affect oral health and unexplained infertility.

This cross-sectional case-control study included 50 fertile women and 50 women with unexplained infertility aged 21 to 39 years. Dental and periodontal parameters were examined to evaluate the oral health of the participants. According to the new periodontal disease classification, periodontitis severity was determined.

In infertile women, the number of advanced caries lesions, the percentage of bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL) were higher (P < 0.05). The DMFT and mean plaque index (PI) were not statistically different between the two groups. The PISA and PESA values were higher in women with unexplained infertility than in fertile women (P = 0.005 and P = 0.002, respectively). In multivariate analysis showed that association of DMFT and BOP variables with periodontitis was found to be significant for all women included in the study and for infertile women only (P = 0.000 and P = 0.012 for DMFT, respectively; P = 0.000 and P = 0.016 for BOP, respectively).

The chronic inflammatory environment caused by periodontitis and advanced carious lesions in women with unexplained infertility should be of great concern as it may have a role in the etiology of infertility.