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The critical relationship between vaginal microecology and Ureaplasma urealyticum: a retrospective study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background Vaginal microecology can reveal the health of the female reproductive tract directly. Female vaginal microecology reflects the state of female reproductive tract health. This study aimed to utilize a variety of female vaginal microecological indicators to comprehensively assess the relationship between the level of vaginal microecological health and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection in women. Methods A total of 408 participants were included in this study, including 144 UU-positive and 264 UU-negative individuals. Clinical information of the participants was collected, and vaginal microecological indicators (cleanliness, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), leukocyte esterase (LEU), sialidase (SNA), N-acetyl glucosidase (NAG), and β -glucuronidase (GUS)) were tested. The measurement data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (x ± s), and the comparison of data between groups was performed using a t -test; count data were expressed as the number of cases (percentage) ( n [%]), and the data between groups were compared using the chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model analyses explored the factors modifying infection with UU. Results UU-positive patients exhibited higher rates of cleanliness positivity, H 2 O 2 positivity, LEU positivity, SNA positivity, NAG positivity, and GUS compared to UU negative patients ( P < 0.05) . The univariate logistic regression model found that cleanliness, H 2 O 2 , LEU, SNA, NAG, and GUS were risk factors for UU infection in women (Cleanliness: odds ratio [ OR ] = 4.30, 95% confidence interval [ CI ] [2.79–6.63]); H 2 O 2 : OR = 9.01, 95% CI [5.33–15.23]; LEU: OR = 1.88, 95% CI [1.22–2.91]; s SNA: OR = 5.53, 95% CI [2.73–11.19]; NAG: OR = 2.41, 95% CI [1.35–4.30]; and GUS: OR = 1.95, 95% CI [1.21–3.15]) . The multivariate logistic regression model found that the independent risk factors for UU infection in patients were cleanliness ( OR = 3.00, 95% CI [1.66–5.43]) and H 2 O 2 ( OR = 7.24, 95% CI [4.19–12.51]). Conclusions Vaginal cleanliness and H 2 O 2 abnormalities are risk factors for UU infections in women. Therefore, female UU infections can be prevented by maintaining vaginal microecology.

Source: PeerJ

DOI: 10.7717/peerj.19783