The Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology international journal publishes an Instituto Bernabeu study of the vaginal microbiome diagnosis method for chronic endometritis

The aim of the Characterization of the vaginal and endometrial microbiome in patients with chronic endometritis research work carried out by Instituto Bernabeu was to understand if the vaginal and endometrial microbiome could be used to diagnose chronic endometritis. The European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Reproductive Biology (EJOGRB) has published the content and conclusions of the research.

Chronic endometritis is inflammation of the lining of the endometrium, which complicates embryo implantation and can lead to embryo implantation failure. Several studies indicate that diagnosis and suitable treatment considerably improve pregnancy rates. 

The work carried out by Instituto Bernabeu was also featured at the ESHRE 2021 congress.

The study observed an abnormal endometrial and vaginal microbiome in patients with chronic endometritis. The traditional diagnostic method is performed using the immunohistochemical marker CD138. In this research, Instituto Bernabeu has analyzed the vaginal and endometrial microbiome through massive sequencing. “Microbiome analysis based on the sequencing of the 16S subunit of the rRNA gene is a rapid tool that allows the identification of pathogenic microorganisms associated with chronic endometritis,” indicate the authors.

To this end, 60 patients undergoing assisted reproduction treatment (ART) with their own or donated gametes were studied and whose embryos underwent genetic testing to rule out chromosomal abnormalities (PGT-A). The Instituto Bernabeu research team detected different communities of bacteria when vaginal and endometrial samples were analyzed in patients diagnosed with chronic endometritis and others who did not suffer from it. The microbiome pattern of samples from women with endometritis was not dominated by Lactobacillus spp. These are the main vaginal and endometrial bacteria that produce lactic acid that maintain the vagina acidic pH and act as a barrier against pathogens. This way, they have verified there’s a characteristic pattern in the vaginal and endometrial microbiota of patients with chronic endometritis.

Characterization of vaginal and endometrial microbiome in patients with chronic endometritis (CE).

FM Lozano, A. Bernabeu, B. Lledo, R Morales, FI Aranda, J. Ll. Aparicio,R. Bernabeu.