scholarly journals Reproductive tract microbiota of women in childbearing age shifts upon gynecological infections and menstrual cycle

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lijuan Cheng ◽  
Yan Gao ◽  
Qing Xia ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Xiuzhen Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study was undertaken to discover whether the vaginal microbe of women at childbearing age is different among groups defined by urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle, respectively. Results This was a multiple case-control study of women at childbearing age who were assigned to case or control groups according to their states of urogenital tract infections. The participants were also grouped by childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Vaginal swabs were collected and stored at − 70 °C until assayed. The V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene was amplified using PCR and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We tested the hypothesis of whether the relative abundance of microbial species in vaginal microbiota was varied with urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle. The vaginal microbial richness (Alpha diversity measured by PD_whole tree) was decreased in normal women (without reproductive tract infections) than in those with bacterial vaginosis (BV), and decreased in pregnant women than in other groups of non-pregnancy. Similarly, women from groups of normal and in pregnancy had lower beta diversity on measure of unweighted_unifrac distance in comparison to those of infected and non-pregnant. The top 10 genus relative abundance, especially Lactobacillus, which was the most dominant genus with the relative abundance of 71.55% among all samples, did not differ significantly between groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle analyzed by ANOVA and nonparametric kruskal_wallis. Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus helveticus have the most abundance, totally account for 97.92% relative abundance of genus Lactobacillus. We also found that a higher L.helveticus/L.iners ratio is more likely to present in normal women than in the infected and in pregnant than in non-pregnant, although these comparisons lack statistical significance. Conclusions The relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa in vaginal microbial communities of women at childbearing age were not different among groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Women from groups of in pregnancy and without reproductive tract infections had lower alpha and beta diversity. The composition of the main lactobacillus species may shift upon phases of a menstrual cycle and the status of reproductive tract infections.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Gao ◽  
Lijuan Cheng ◽  
Qing Xia ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Xiuzhen Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The association of the normal physiological cycle to the structural pattern of microbiota in reproductive tract of women at reproductive age has not been extensively explored. This study was undertaken to determine whether the vaginal microbes of women at childbearing age is different among groups defined by urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle, respectively.Results: This was a multiple case-control study of women at childbearing age who were assigned to case or control groups according to their states of urogenital tract infections. The participants were also grouped by childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Samples of vaginal swabs were collected and stored at -70℃ until assayed. The V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA genes were amplified using PCR and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We tested the hypothesis of whether the relative abundance of microbial species in vaginal microbiota was different between women with different urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle. We showed that the vaginal microbial richness(Alpha diversity measured by PD_whole tree) was decreased in normal women(without reproductive tract infections) than in those with bacterial vaginosis (BV), and decreased in pregnant women than in other groups of non-pregnancy. Similarly, women from groups of normal and in pregnancy had lower beta diversity on measure of unweighted_unifrac distance in comparison to those of uninfected and non-pregnant. The top 10 genus relative abundance, especially that Lactobacillus was the most dominant genus with the relative abundance of 71.55% among all samples, did not differ significantly between groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle analyzed by ANOVA and nonparametric kruskal_wallis.Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus helveticus have the most abundance, totally account for 97.92% relative abundance of genus Lactobacillus. It is proposed that a higher L.helveticus/L.iners ratio is more likely to present in normal women than in the infected and in pregnant than in non-pregnant, although this comparison lacks statistical significance.Conclusions: The relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa in vaginal microbial communities of women at childbearing age, characterized with 16S rRNA gene sequence and QIIME based analysis, were not different among groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Women from groups of in pregnancy and without reproductive tract infections had lower alpha and beta diversity. The compositional ratio of the main lactobacillus species may shift depending on the normal physiological cycle and reproductive tract infections.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Gao ◽  
Lijuan Cheng ◽  
Qing Xia ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Xiuzhen Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The association of the normal physiological cycle to the structural pattern of microbiota in reproductive tract of women at reproductive age has not been extensively explored. This study was undertaken to determine whether the vaginal microbes of women at childbearing age is different among groups defined by urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle, respectively.Results: This was a multiple case-control study of women at childbearing age who were assigned to case or control groups according to their states of urogenital tract infections. The participants were also grouped by childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Samples of vaginal swabs were collected and stored at -70℃ until assayed. The V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA genes were amplified using PCR and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We tested the hypothesis of whether the relative abundance of microbial species in vaginal microbiota was different between women with different urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle. We showed that the vaginal microbial richness(Alpha diversity measured by PD_whole tree) was decreased in normal women(without reproductive tract infections) than in those with bacterial vaginosis (BV), and decreased in pregnant women than in other groups of non-pregnancy. Similarly, women from groups of normal and in pregnancy had lower beta diversity on measure of unweighted_unifrac distance in comparison to those of uninfected and non-pregnant. The top 10 genus relative abundance, especially that Lactobacillus was the most dominant genus with the relative abundance of 71.55% among all samples, did not differ significantly between groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle analyzed by ANOVA and nonparametric kruskal_wallis. Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus helveticus have the most abundance, totally account for 97.92% relative abundance of genus Lactobacillus. It is proposed that a higher L.helveticus/L.iners ratio is more likely to present in normal women than in the infected and in pregnant than in non-pregnant, although this comparison lacks statistical significance.Conclusions: The relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa in vaginal microbial communities of women at childbearing age, characterized with 16S rRNA gene sequence and QIIME based analysis, were not different among groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Women from groups of in pregnancy and without reproductive tract infections had lower alpha and beta diversity. The compositional ratio of the main lactobacillus species may shift depending on the normal physiological cycle and reproductive tract infections.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Gao ◽  
Hongyan Liu ◽  
Lijuan Cheng ◽  
Qing Xia ◽  
Xiuzhen Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The association of the normal physiological cycle to the structural pattern of microbiota in reproductive tract of women at reproductive age has not been extensively explored. This study was undertaken to determine whether the vaginal microbes of women at childbearing age is different among groups defined by urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle, respectively.Results: This was a multiple case-control study of women at childbearing age who were assigned to case or control groups according to their states of urogenital tract infections. The participants were also grouped by childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Samples of vaginal swabs were collected and stored at -70℃ until assayed. The V3-V4 regions of 16S rRNA genes were amplified using PCR and sequenced on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We tested the hypothesis of whether the relative abundance of microbial species in vaginal microbiota was different between women with different urogenital tract infections, childbearing history and menstrual cycle. We showed that the vaginal microbial richness(Alpha diversity measured by PD_whole tree) was decreased in normal women(without reproductive tract infections) than in those with bacterial vaginosis (BV), and decreased in pregnant women than in other groups of non-pregnancy. Similarly, women from groups of normal and in pregnancy had lower beta diversity on measure of unweighted_unifrac distance in comparison to those of uninfected and non-pregnant. The top 10 genus relative abundance, especially that Lactobacillus was the most dominant genus with the relative abundance of 71.55% among all samples, did not differ significantly between groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle analyzed by ANOVA and nonparametric kruskal_wallis.Lactobacillus iners and Lactobacillus helveticus have the most abundance, totally account for 97.92% relative abundance of genus Lactobacillus. It is proposed that a higher L.helveticus/L.iners ratio is more likely to present in normal women than in the infected and in pregnant than in non-pregnant, although this comparison lacks statistical significance.Conclusions: The relative abundance of dominant bacterial taxa in vaginal microbial communities of women at childbearing age, characterized with 16S rRNA gene sequence and QIIME based analysis, were not different among groups of childbearing history and menstrual cycle. Women from groups of in pregnancy and without reproductive tract infections had lower alpha and beta diversity. The compositional ratio of the main lactobacillus species may shift depending on the normal physiological cycle and reproductive tract infections.


Author(s):  
Renuka Kumari ◽  
Priti Bala Sahay

Background: Ever since the history of mankind, human infertility has been a source of personal misery and social stigma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tubal factors of infertility, especially the tubal patency by SSG and HSG and study the advantages of both.Methods: The present work was undertaken in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Department of Radiodiagnosis of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi. 60 patients with primary or secondary infertility attending the OPD were selected over a period of 15 months (July 2008 to September 2009). Inclusion criteria: women of age 20-35 years with regular menstrual cycle whose male partners had no faults. Exclusion criteria: women with PID or other proven causes of infertility. All the patients were subjected to both SSG and HSG (interval period being 1 menstrual cycle) and the results compared in terms of tubal occlusion detection rate, detection of pelvic pathologies and complications of both the procedures.Results: Out of 60 cases, 70% (42) were of primary infertility and 30% (18) were of secondary infertility. History of reproductive tract infections was higher in secondary infertility group (44%). SSG appeared to be more sensitive in detection of tubal obstruction (35%) than HSG (30%), but the difference was statistically insignificant (p>0.05). HSG could locate the exact site of tubal obstruction which was not evident in SSG. SSG was more sensitive in detection of associated pelvic pathologies (p = 0.05) like ovarian cyst, endometriosis and fibroid uterus. However, HSG was better in diagnosis of genital tuberculosis. 20% of patients complained of pelvic pain, bleeding, infection or allergic reaction during or after HSG, while only 7% of patients reported the same with SSG. Thus, SSG was superior to HSG in this respect (p = 0.02).Conclusions: SSG, though not a substitute, can be used as an alternative to HSG for assessment of tubal factors of infertility.


Author(s):  
Miti Dwijen Bhatt ◽  
Deepali Mohan Kadam

Background: Being a developing country, India is faced with many health problems which can be averted by education and implementation of basic guidelines. Menstrual hygiene is one such topics which is rarely brought to attention but forms an integral part of a women’s life. This topic has been neglected not only in rural areas but in the poor socioeconomic corners of metropolitan cities. This ignorance has taken a great toll on the quality of life of women. Poor hygiene predisposes them to reproductive tract infections which may lead to increased incidence of infertility and mortality. Misconceptions regarding this have also prevented women to seek out professional help. Keeping this in mind the study was undertaken to spread awareness and eliminate the taboo this topic is regarded with.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted amongst adolescent girls in a private school located in Angaon village, Bhiwandi Taluka, Mumbai. A self-administered questionnaire was given to the adolescent girls to assess their knowledge, attitude and practices regarding menstrual cycle. Percentages were used for statistical analysis.Results: 83 girls (96.51%) were aware of menstrual cycle. 49 (56.98%) girls perceived that menstrual blood is dirty. 72 (83.72%) knew that it is a physiological process. 85 (98.84%) were also aware about menstrual hygiene. 85 (98.4%) felt that girls should be addressed regarding menstrual cycle, hygiene before achieving menarche. 50 (58.14%) girls followed restrictions during menstruation.Conclusions: The findings of the present study emphasize the need to address physiology about menstrual cycle as well as the myths and misconceptions associated with it.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenyang Feng ◽  
Ruixue Li ◽  
Abu Ahmed Shamim ◽  
Md Barkat Ullah ◽  
Mengjie Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Reproductive tract infections (RTIs) have become major but silent public health problems devastating women’s lives in Bangladesh. Accurately and precisely identifying high-risk areas of RTIs through high-resolution risk maps is meaningful for resource-limited settings. Methods We obtained data reported with RTI symptoms by women of childbearing age in the years 2007, 2011 and 2014 from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. High-spatial Environmental, socio-economic and demographic layers were downloaded from different open-access data sources. We applied Bayesian spatial-temporal models to identify important influencing factors and to estimate the infection risk at 5 km spatial resolution across survey years in Bangladesh. Results We estimated that in Bangladesh, there were approximate 11.1% (95% Bayesian credible interval, BCI: 10.5–11.7%), 13.9% (95% BCI: 13.3–14.5%) and 13.4% (95% BCI: 12.8–14.0%) of women of childbearing age reported with RTI symptoms in 2007, 2011 and 2014, respectively. The risk of most areas shows an obvious increase from 2007 to 2011, then became stable between 2011 and 2014. High risk areas were identified in the southern coastal areas, the western Rajshahi Division, the middle of Khulna Division, and the southwestern Chittagong Division in 2014. The prevalence of Rajshahi and Nawabganj District were increasing during all the survey years. Conclusion The high-resolution risk maps of RTIs we produced can guide the control strategies targeted to priority areas cost-effectively. More than one eighth of women of childbearing age reported symptoms suggesting RTIs and the risk of RTIs varies in different geographical area, urging the government to pay more attention to the worrying situation of female RTIs in the country.


2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 203-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan W. Cook ◽  
Hunter A. Hammill ◽  
Richard A. Hull

Objective:The presence of enterobacteria such asEscherichia coliin the vagina of normal women is not synonymous with infection. However, vaginalE. colimay also cause symptomatic infections. We examined bacterial virulenceproperties that may promote symptomatic female reproductive tract infections (RTI) and neonatal sepsis.Methods:E. coliisolated as the causative agent from cases of vaginitis (n = 50), tubo-ovarian abscess (n = 45) and neonatal sepsis (n = 45) was examined for selected phenotypic and genetic virulence properties. Results were compared with the frequency of the same properties among fecalE. colinot associated with disease.Results:A significantly greater proportion of infectionE. coliexhibited D-mannose resistant hemagglutination compared with fecalE. coli(p< 0.01). This adherence phenotype was associated with the presence of P fimbriae (pap) genes which were also significantly more prevalent among isolates from all three infection sites (p< 0.01). The majority ofpap+isolates contained thepapG3allele (Class II) regardless of infection type. Increased frequency of Type 1C genes among vaginitis and abscess isolates was also noted. No significant differences in frequency of other bacterial adherence genes, fim, sfa, uca (gaf) or dra were observed. E. coli associated with vaginitis was significantly more likely to be hemolytic ( HIY+) than were fecal isolates (p< 0.05). The HIY+phenotype was also more prevalent among tubo-ovarian abscess and neonatal sepsis isolates (p< 0.08).Conclusions:E. coliisolated from female RTI and neonatal sepses possess unique properties that may enhance their virulence. These properties are similar to those associated with otherE. coliextra-intestinal infections, indicating that strategies such as vaccination or bacterial interference that may be developed against urinary tract infections (UTI) and otherE. coliextra-intestinal infections may also prevent selected female RTI.


JAMA ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 307 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Matthew Chico ◽  
Philippe Mayaud ◽  
Cono Ariti ◽  
David Mabey ◽  
Carine Ronsmans ◽  
...  

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