Urogenital infections in reproductive medicine Urogenital infections, be it with Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Trichomonas vaginalis, or Escherichia coli, are commonly seen in women in the reproductive age-group.1 Infections with C. trachomatis constitute the most prevalent sexually-transmitted bacterial diseases.2 All these infections can alter important human functions, including reproduction. Bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites have the potential to interfere with the reproductive function in both sexes.3 Urogenital infections have frequently been associated with infertility. In women, chronic salpingitis has been associated with subsequent tubal infertility and ectopic pregnancies.2 Tubo-peritoneal damage appears to be the principal way in which microorganisms interfere with human fertility.3 The burden of urogenital infections appears to be high in women belonging to the reproductive age. Madhivanan et al4 evaluated the burden of T. vaginalis infection among young reproductive age women in Mysore, India. Nearly 8.5% of the women belonging to the 15-30 years age group had…
Surrogacy: An insight The past few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the worldwide prevalence of infertility.1 Consequently, modern medicine has progressed by leaps and bounds bringing in its realm significant advances in fertility procedures.2 Among them, surrogacy is increasingly becoming popular as it enables the medically and socially infertile to have their own genetic children.3,4 It is noteworthy in this context that celebrities, struggling with infertility, who have expanded their families by this method, have greatly empowered surrogacy practices and also inspired common people to adopt this measure. The first recorded example of surrogacy can be traced back to Hindu mythology. According to Mahabharat story, the seventh child of Devki, Balarama was mystically transferred from Devaki's womb to the womb of Rohini. In due course of time, Balarama took birth in Gokula. Therein, lie the roots of surrogacy.5 Technically, surrogacy refers to a method of reproduction whereby a…
