Gum Disease Delays Pregnancy
Researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland studied 256 healthy, non-pregnant women aged 19 to 42 in southern Finland. All of the women were planning to become pregnant. The researchers gave all of the women dental and gynecological examinations and tested their saliva for common gum pathogens. They followed the women for a 12-month period to see if they became pregnant during that time.
Researchers found significantly higher levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a bacteria linked to gum disease, in the saliva of women who did not become pregnant during the study, compared to women who did become pregnant.
The study found that women who had P. gingivalis in their saliva were three times more likely to have trouble getting pregnant than women who did not have the bacteria in their saliva.
“Our results encourage young women of childbearing age to pay attention to their oral hygiene and regularly assess the health of their gums,” Susanne Pajo, a periodontist at Helsinki Hospital, said in a news release.
Researchers found significantly higher levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a bacteria linked to gum disease, in the saliva of women who did not become pregnant during the study, compared to women who did become pregnant.
The study found that women who had P. gingivalis in their saliva were three times more likely to have trouble getting pregnant than women who did not have the bacteria in their saliva.
“Our results encourage young women of childbearing age to pay attention to their oral hygiene and regularly assess the health of their gums,” Susanne Pajo, a periodontist at Helsinki Hospital, said in a news release.
