Cervical mucus is a biological fluid secreted by the endocervical glandular epithelium whose quantitative and qualitative characteristics vary in response to the hormonal stimulus produced by the ovary during the woman's menstrual cycle. As a fertility factor, it performs numerous biological functions: transport, nourishment, defence and capacitation of spermatozoa, defence against pathogens of the female genital tract. If physiologically mucus is a fertility factor, alterations in its biological characteristics, related to its composition or to the cells that secrete it, can also become revealing/indicators of conditions that negatively impact the reproductive health of the woman.

The aim of this research will therefore be to deepen the knowledge of the biochemical characteristics of cervical mucus, in particular to perform characterization by infrared spectroscopy, for the identification of diagnostic, prognostic and predictive biomarkers for disorders of the female reproductive system in a healthy control population and a cohort of patients suffering from unexplained infertility.

The primary objective of the prospective observational cohort study is to identify new biomarkers in cervical secretion, of clinical relevance for diagnostic or screening purposes for reproductive and gynecological disorders, or of prognostic or predictive significance for reproductive and gynecological disorders. A secondary objective is the evaluation of the correct interpretation of the mucus symptom by women as a reliable indicator of fertility and/or reproductive disorders. 24 women aged 18-45 years will be enrolled divided into Cohort (patients with unexplained infertility) and Controls (users of the Billings Ovulation Method (MOB®) of proven fertility

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the association between single nucleotide genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) and idiopathic male sterility. Several SNPs have been studied to explore their role in the pathophysiology of idiopathic male infertility and have been associated with altered spermatogenesis in infertile men, but the related studies report inconsistent results.