Assessment of vaginal and endometrial microbiota by real-time PCR in women with unexplained infertility
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, cilt.48, sa.1, ss.129-139, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 48 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2022
- Doi Numarası: 10.1111/jog.15060
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.129-139
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Flora, Lactobacillus, microbiota, real-time PCR, unexplained infertility
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Aim: Microbiota of the reproductive tract may be associated with unexplained infertility in women. We aimed to determine the derangements of vaginal and endometrial microbiota related to unexplained infertility by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) microbiota analyses of vaginal and endometrial samples of the unexplained infertility patients and fertile women. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six women with unexplained infertility and 26 age-matched fertile women were included. Vaginal and endometrial samples were obtained in the mid-menstrual cycle for analysis by quantitative real-time PCR method. Results: The proportion of lactobacilli-impaired microbiota was significantly higher in the vaginal samples of unexplained infertility patients (76.9% vs. 26.9%; p < 0.001). Those with impaired lactobacilli microbiota of vaginal samples had an increased risk of 9.048 times for infertility than those with normal lactobacilli microbiota. In addition, the mean lactobacilli/total bacterial mass (TBM) ratio in the vaginal samples was significantly lower in the unexplained infertility patients (38.2% vs.76.3%; p = 0.001). Conclusion: The present study results supported the role of vaginal and endometrial microbiota derangements in unexplained infertility. Many time-consuming and invasive methods are currently used in the diagnosis of infertility. Our study showed that the quantitative determination of lactobacilli/TBM ratio in vaginal specimens, a less invasive and easily obtainable method, could be used as a diagnostic test during the workup of couples with unexplained infertility.