Journal Article

Analysis of endometrial microbiota by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing among infertile patients: a single‐center pilot study

Hashimoto, Tomoko, Sakuraba, Yoshiyuki, Kyono, Koichi, Nagai, Yoko

2018

Overview

Purpose The present study aimed to analyze the endometrial and vaginal microbiome among a Japanese infertile population by sequencing and the impact of the endometrial and vaginal environment on implantation. Methods In total, 102 infertile (79 in vitro fertilization [IVF] and 23 non‐IVF) patients and seven healthy volunteers were recruited from August to December, 2017. Endometrial fluid and vaginal discharge samples for sequencing were collected by using an intrauterine insemination catheter. The bacterial status of the endometrium and vagina were analyzed. Results The Lactobacillus‐dominated microbiota (>90% Lactobacillus spp.) in the endometrium vs vagina was 38% (30/79) vs 44.3% (44/79) in the IVF patients, 73.9% (17/23) vs 73.9% (17/23) in the non‐IVF patients, and 85.7% (6/7) vs 85.7% (6/7) in the healthy volunteers. The percentage of endometrial Lactobacillus in the healthy volunteers was highly stable within the same menstrual cycle and even in the following cycle. The major taxonomies were Gardnerella, Streptococcus, Atopobium, Bifidobacterium, Sneathia, Prevotella, and Staphylococcus. Fifteen patients achieved pregnancy by a single vitrified‐warmed blastocyst transfer during this study; the median percentage of Lactobacillus in the pregnant women was 96.45 ± 33.61%. Conclusion A considerable percentage of non‐Lactobacillus‐dominated (NLD) microbiota was found in the endometrium of Japanese infertile women. Increasing the endometrial level of the Lactobacilli to >90% might favor the implantation outcome of NLD infertile patients. We analyzed the endometrial and vaginal microbiome among a Japanese infertile population by sequencing, and found a considerable percentage of non‐Lactobacillus dominated microbiota in the endometrium of Japanese infertile women.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc,John Wiley and Sons Inc,Wiley
• Subject: Analysis / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / endometrial microbiota / Endometrium / Genetic research / Implantation / In vitro fertilization / infertile women / Infertility / Japanese women / Lactobacillus / Library collections / Medical research / Medicine, Experimental / Menstrual cycle / Menstruation / Microbiomes / Microbiota / Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms) / Original / Polymerase chain reaction / Pregnancy / Pregnant women / Ribosomal RNA / rRNA 16S / Salmonella / Studies / Taxonomy / Thermal cycling / Vagina / vaginal microbiota / volunteer