Parasites of the Reproductive System

Parasites infecting the reproductive system are increasingly recognized as serious health problems with an impact on women and men. These infections can have severe consequences, including infertility and miscarriage. Some of these parasites could also be transmitted from mothers to children during pregnancy and childbirth. These infections affect more than just reproductive health; the resultant morbidity affects the economic productivity of the whole community. Parasites infecting the female reproductive system could cause the following manifestations: infertility caused by Toxoplasma gondii, Trichomonas, and Trypanosoma cruzi; abortion and congenital malformations (microcephaly, blindness) caused by infection with Toxoplasma; endometritis and salpingitis seen in infection with Toxoplasma gondii; and vaginitis, vaginal discharge, and cervical neoplasia mainly caused by Trichomonas vaginalis. Manifestations caused by parasites infecting the male reproductive system include the following: prostatitis and penile discharge caused by Trichomonas vaginalis in males; hydrocele and varicoceles seen during infection with lymphatic filarial worms (W. bancrofti); epididymitis, spermatic, and testicular inflammation caused by Schistosoma infection. Parasites infecting the reproductive system could be one of the following: parasites directly infect the reproductive organs, e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Trypanosoma; or parasites transmitted through the placenta, e.g., Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium, and Trypanosoma cruzi; or parasites with multi-organs effects, e.g., Trypanosoma and W. bancrofti.