O-128 Intra-cycle alterations of the uterine microbiota in patients with recurrent miscarriage or recurrent implantation failure and healthy controls

AbstractStudy questionUterine microbiota: are there differences within three major time points of the menstrual cycle in healthy controls, recurrent miscarriage (RM) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF) patients?Summary answerCompared to controls, RM and RIF patients showed an altered uterine microbiota throughout the menstrual cycle, with a lower dominance of lactobacilli.What is known alreadyIn contrast to the former notion of a sterile womb, bacterial colonization in the uterus and the placenta has been demonstrated. Studies showed that Lactobacillus-dominated endometrial microbiota correlate with reproductive success. Moreover, the presence of non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota, especially with detection of Gardnerella and Streptococcus in the endometrial fluid, seems to be associated with lower implantation-, ongoing pregnancy- and live birth-rates. However, intra-cycle variations in healthy women as well as possible alterations in patients with RM or RIF remain unknown.Study design, size, durationIn total, n  = 20 RM patients (≥ 3 consecutive miscarriages), n = 20 RIF patients (≥3 fresh or frozen embryo transfers with negative serum hCG, good quality embryos) and n = 10 healthy controls (no pregnancy) were included in this study. All patients had a 28 day menstrual cycle. During follic ular, ovulatory and luteal-phase, after a thorough cleaning of the cervix, a flexible catheter was introduced into the uterine cavity and a uterine flushing with...
Source: Human Reproduction - Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: research