scholarly journals Comparison of Female Genital Tract Cytokine and Microbiota Signatures Induced by Initiation of Intramuscular DMPA and NET-EN Hormonal Contraceptives - a Prospective Cohort Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Smritee Dabee ◽  
Ramla F. Tanko ◽  
Bryan P. Brown ◽  
Rubina Bunjun ◽  
Christina Balle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
African Women ◽  
Hormonal Contraceptives ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Female Genital

BackgroundCervicovaginal inflammation, bacterial microbiota and hormonal contraceptives all influence sexual and reproductive health. To date, the effects of intramuscular depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-IM) versus injectable norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) on vaginal microbiota or cytokines have not been compared back-to-back, although in-vitro data suggest that DMPA-IM and NET-EN have different pharmacokinetic and biologic activities. This study aimed at comparing the effects of DMPA-IM versus NET-EN initiation on cervicovaginal cytokines and microbiota in women at high risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) assigned to the respective contraceptives.MethodsWe collected socio-demographic characteristics and vaginal samples from women initiating DMPA-IM (ECHO Trial; n = 53) and NET-EN (UChoose Trial; n = 44) at baseline and after two consecutive injections to assess cytokine concentrations by Luminex, vaginal microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, STIs, bacterial vaginosis (BV) and candidiasis.ResultsCytokine concentrations did not change significantly after initiating DMPA-IM or NET-EN, although NET-EN versus DMPA-IM-associated profiles were distinct. While the abundance of bacterial taxa associated with optimal and non-optimal microbiota fluctuated with DMPA-IM use, overall community composition did not significantly change with either contraceptive. HSV-2 serology, chlamydial infection, gonorrhoea and candidiasis did not influence the associations between contraceptive type and cervicovaginal cytokines or microbiota.ConclusionsBoth DMPA-IM and NET-EN use did not lead to broad inflammatory or microbiota changes in the female genital tract of sub-Saharan African women. This suggests that NET-EN is likely a viable option for contraception in African women at high risk of BV and STIs.

scholarly journals Vaginal, Cervical and Uterine pH in Women with Normal and Abnormal Vaginal Microbiota

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Malene Risager Lykke ◽  
Naja Becher ◽  
Thor Haahr ◽  
Ebbe Boedtkjer ◽  
Jørgen Skov Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Uterine Cavity ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Ph Gradient ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Female Genital

Introduction: Healthy women of reproductive age have a vaginal pH around 4.5, whereas little is known about pH in the upper genital tract. A shift in the vaginal microbiota may result in an elevated pH in the upper genital tract. This might contribute to decreased fertility and increased risk of preterm birth. Therefore, we aimed to measure pH in different compartments of the female genital tract in both nonpregnant and pregnant women, stratifying into a normal and abnormal vaginal microbiota. Material and methods: In this descriptive study, we included 6 nonpregnant, 12 early-pregnant, and 8 term-pregnant women. A pH gradient was recorded with a flexible pH probe. An abnormal vaginal microbiota was diagnosed by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique for Atopobium vaginae; Sneathia sanguinegens; Leptotrichia amnionii; bacterial vaginosis-associated bacterium 1, 2, 3, and TM7; and Prevotella spp. among others. Results: In all participants we found the pH gradient in the lower reproductive canal to be most acidic in the lower vagina and most alkaline in the upper uterine cavity. Women with an abnormal vaginal microbiota had an increased pH in the lower vagina compared to the other groups. Conclusions: There is a pronounced pH gradient within the female genital tract. This gradient is not disrupted in women with an abnormal vaginal microbiota.

scholarly journals High-risk human papilloma virus infection decreases the frequency of dendritic Langerhans' cells in the human female genital tract

Immunology ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 220-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Jimenez-Flores ◽  
Rene Mendez-Cruz ◽  
Jorge Ojeda-Ortiz ◽  
Rebeca Munoz-Molina ◽  
Oscar Balderas-Carrillo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Human Papilloma Virus ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Langerhans Cells ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Human Papilloma Virus Infection ◽  
Human Female ◽  
Papilloma Virus ◽  
Female Genital

Development of an in vitro dual-chamber model of the female genital tract as a screening tool for epithelial toxicity

2010 ◽  
Vol 165 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef Gali ◽  
Kevin K. Ariën ◽  
Marleen Praet ◽  
Rafael Van den Bergh ◽  
Marleen Temmerman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genital Tract ◽  
Screening Tool ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Dual Chamber ◽  
Chamber Model ◽  
Female Genital

Development of an in vitro organ culture model to study transmission of HIV-1 in the female genital tract

10.1038/74743 ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 475-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly B. Collins ◽  
Bruce K. Patterson ◽  
Gregory J. Naus ◽  
Daniel V. Landers ◽  
Phalguni Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Organ Culture ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Culture Model ◽  
In Vitro Organ Culture ◽  
Hiv 1 ◽  
Female Genital

scholarly journals Immune Pathogenesis of Asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in the Female Genital Tract

1995 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven S. Witkin
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Pregnancy Loss ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Fallopian Tubes ◽  
Female Genital

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections of the female genital tract, although frequently asymptomatic, are a major cause of fallopian-tube occlusion and infertility. Early stage pregnancy loss may also be due to an unsuspected and undetected CT infection. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that this organism can persist in the female genital tract in a form undetectable by culture. The mechanism of tubal damage as well as the rejection of an embryo may involve an initial immune sensitization to the CT 60 kD heat shock protein (HSP), followed by a reactivation of HSP-sensitized lymphocytes in response to the human HSP and the subsequent release of inflammatory cytokines. The periodic induction of human HSP expression by various microorganisms or by noninfectious mechanisms in the fallopian tubes of women sensitized to the CT HSP may eventually result in tubal scarring and occlusion. Similarly, an immune response to human HSP expression during the early stages of pregnancy may interfere with the immune regulatory mechanisms required for the maintenance of a semiallogeneic embryo.

scholarly journals Sperm migration in the genital tract - in silico experiments identify key factors for reproductive success

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorin Diemer ◽  
Jens Hahn ◽  
Björn Goldenbogen ◽  
Karin Müller ◽  
Edda Klipp
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Genital Tract ◽  
Female Genital Tract ◽  
Male Gametes ◽  
Sperm Migration ◽  
Sperm Motion ◽  
Female Genital

Sperm migration in the female genital tract controls sperm selection and, therefore, reproductive success as male gametes are conditioned for fertilization while their number is dramatically reduced. Mechanisms underlying sperm migration are mostly unknown, since in vivo investigations are mostly unfeasible for ethical or practical reasons. By presenting a spatio-temporal model of the mammalian female genital tract combined with agent-based description of sperm motion and interaction as well as parameterizing it with bovine data, we offer an alternative possibility for studying sperm migration in silico. The model incorporates genital tract geometry as well as biophysical principles of sperm motion observed in vitro such as positive rheotaxis and thigmotaxis. This model for sperm migration from vagina to oviducts was successfully tested against in vivo data from literature. We found that physical sperm characteristics such as velocity and directional stability as well as sperm-fluid interactions and wall alignment are critical for success, i.e. sperms reaching the oviducts. Therefore, we propose that these identified sperm parameters should be considered in detail for conditioning sperm in artificial selection procedures since the natural processes are normally bypassed in reproductive in vitro technologies. The tremendous impact of mucus flow to support sperm accumulation in the oviduct highlights the importance of a species-specific optimum time window for artificial insemination regarding ovulation. Predictions from our extendable in silico experimental system will improve assisted reproduction in humans, endangered species, and livestock.

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