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My microbiota as a woman

Does microbiota play a role in infertility?

Fertility
The vaginal microbiota

Recent scientific publications have provided new data highlighting the key role of the vaginal microbiota on women’s health. Biocodex Microbiota Institute is launching a set of expert interviews dedicated to microbiota, women and health. What do we already know about woman’s health and microbiota? What do we still have to discover?

In this last episode, Prof. Ina Schuppe Koistinen explores the role of microbiota in women infertility.

The power of your gut
My microbiota as a woman
Our marvelous microbiota
  • Learn all about microbiota
    • The gut microbiota
    • The ENT microbiota
    • The pulmonary microbiota
    • The urinary microbiota
    • The skin microbiota
    • The vaginal microbiota
  • Microbiota and related conditions
    • Digestive disorders
    • Women disorders
    • Metabolic disorders
    • Skin disorders
    • Pediatric disorders
    • Psychiatric disorders
    • Neurological disorders
    • Respiratory disorders
    • Urinary disorders
  • Act on your microbiota
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    • Diet
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Doctor talking to patients

About this article

Author

Pr. Ina Schuppe Koistinen Prof. Ina Schuppe Koistinen
Created 14 March 2023
Updated 14 May 2024

Table of contents

Table of contents

Between 48 million couples and 186 million individuals live with infertility globally.

To start, a frequently asked question: what is infertility?

Prof. Ina Schuppe-Koistinen: According to the WHO, infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse 1. The methods used to estimate its frequency varies across research studies, and this variation makes it difficult to understand and estimate the magnitude of the problem. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the Infertility affects approximately 15% of all couples of reproductive age worldwide, this having an impact on their families and communities 1,2 but this figure masks considerable variation within and between countries. Infertility can be primary or secondary. Primary infertility is when a pregnancy has never been achieved and secondary infertility is when at least one prior pregnancy has been achieved.

In men, infertility is most commonly caused by problems in the ejection of semen, absence or low levels of sperm, or abnormal shape and movement of the sperm.

In women, infertility may be caused by a range of abnormalities of the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes, and the endocrine system.

After excluding those issues, approximately 15% of all infertility is unexplained.

Infertility estimation

The World Health Organization estimates that the Infertility affects approximately 15% of all couples of reproductive age worldwide  1,2 and 15% of all infertility is unexplained.

Is a treatment currently available to help couples?

I.S.-K.: Infertility is treated with (sidenote: Assisted Reproduction Technologies (ART) ART includes all fertility treatments in which either eggs or embryos are handled. In general, ART procedures involve surgically removing eggs from a woman’s ovaries, combining them with sperm in the laboratory, and returning them to the woman’s body or donating them to another woman. They do NOT include treatments in which only sperm are handled (i.e., intrauterine—or artificial—insemination) or procedures in which a woman takes medicine only to stimulate egg production without the intention of having eggs retrieved. ) (ART), such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) that have been available for more than three decades, with more than 5 million children born worldwide. However, these technologies are still largely unavailable, inaccessible and unaffordable in many parts of the world, particularly in low and middle-income countries.

5 million children born worldwide from IVF

Which role plays the vaginal microbiota in infertility?

I.S.-K.: In addition to healthy reproductive organs, a successful pregnancy relies on a functional crosstalk between the immune system and expression of hormones enabling fertilization and implantation of the semi-foreign embryo, while at the same time preventing entry and colonization of (sidenote: Pathogens A pathogen is a microorganism that causes, or may cause, disease. Pirofski LA, Casadevall A. Q and A: What is a pathogen? A question that begs the point. BMC Biol. 2012 Jan 31;10:6. ) . A healthy vaginal microbiota is dominated by (sidenote: Lactobacilli Rod-shaped bacteria whose main characteristic is the production of lactic acid, from where they get the name “lactic acid bacteria”.  Lactobacilli are present in the oral, vaginal and gut microbiota of humans, but also in plants and animals. They are found in fermented foods, such as dairy products (e.g. certain cheeses and yoghurts), pickles, sauerkraut, etc. Lactobacilli are also found in probiotics, with certain species recognized for their beneficial properties.   W. H. Holzapfel et B. J. Wood, The Genera of Lactic Acid Bacteria, 2, Springer-Verlag, 1st ed. 1995 (2012), 411 p. « The genus Lactobacillus par W. P. Hammes, R. F. Vogel Tannock GW. A special fondness for lactobacilli. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2004 Jun;70(6):3189-94. Smith TJ, Rigassio-Radler D, Denmark R, et al. Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG® and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BB-12® on health-related quality of life in college students affected by upper respiratory infections. Br J Nutr. 2013 Jun;109(11):1999-2007. ) species that helps protect against pathogens by producing lactic acid and other molecules that kill pathogens. By that, a vaginal microbiota dominated by Lactobacillus species is important for fertility.

35% Only 1 in 3 said their doctor had ever taught them what the vaginal microbiota was and what it was used for

Learn more:
What women know (and don't know) about their vaginal microbiota

The vaginal microbiota

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There are a number of studies that associate high levels of inflammatory cells and raised inflammation markers in the vagina and uterus of women with unexplained infertility. Several studies link the vaginal microbiota as driver of local inflammation executed by both compounds produced by the vaginal microbes and inflammatory host response factors 3,4. With other words, a dysbiotic vaginal microbiota contributes to an inflammatory state that has a negative impact on fertility. 
Finally, several studies have demonstrated an association between the microbiota and diseases and infections influencing fertility, such as bacterial vaginosis, cervical cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. More research on how the microbiota influences fertility is vital 5.

Actu GP : La dysbiose vaginale à l’origine de certains cas d’infertilité ? 05.11.2020 Vaginal dysbiosis: the cause of certain cases of infertility? Read more

What about bacterial vaginosis?

I.S.-K.: Bacterial vaginosis is a common cause of vaginal inflammation and discomfort in women of reproductive age. In bacterial vaginosis the healthy vaginal microbiota is overtaken by less favorable bacteria. Although the composition of the bacteria in bacterial vaginosis varies between individuals, there are some species such as Gardnerella, Atopobium, Snethia, Megasphera, Dialister and others, that are found most frequently 6. The microbial composition of bacterial vaginosis has been linked to various pregnancy outcomes including pre-term birth, and can also affect the semen microbiota after intercourse, which in term could affect sperm quality or motility. The link to infertility is not fully established but data suggests that bacterial vaginosis is leading to reduced fertility 7.

Pr. Ina Schuppe Koistinen

"Bacterial vaginosis is a common reason for inflammation in the vagina and this vagina inflammation has been linked to reduce fertility."

Prof. Ina Schuppe Koistinen

Bacterial vaginosis

Read more

Does a perturbation of the vaginal flora have an impact on the outcome of assisted reproductive technology procedures?

I.S.-K.: Studies have shown that a healthy vaginal microbiota with certain Lactobacillus species during assisted reproductive technology procedures may have a positive impact on success while women with bacterial vaginosis have poorer results.

More research is needed to answer the question if the presence or absence of certain vaginal bacteria is associated with success or failure to become pregnant after IVF 8.

May gut health through intestinal microbiota affect the fertility?

I.S.-K.: The microbiota of the female reproductive tract accounts for approximately 10% of the body’s total microbial population. The vast majority of human microbes are found in the gut. They are highly connected to our health and do not only influence the intestinal milieu but also other organs in the body. Vaginal microbes are mainly derived from the gut, although those mechanisms are not well understood yet. As gut microbes metabolize the female sex hormone estrogen, they are directly affecting female physiology and reproductive health. Therefore, a healthy gut microbiome is not only important for good health but also fertility.

The gut microbiota

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What about men: could the men genital microbiota play a role in fertility?

I.S.-K.: Again, there are few studies that have looked at the microbiome in the male reproductive system 9. The male genital mucosa contains a bacterial composition that is similar to adjacent anatomical sites with bacterial species as Prevotella, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, and Anaerococcus and is affected by sexual intercourse. Male circumcision seems to influence the penile microbiome. More studies and research are needed to understand the role of the male genital microbiome for fertility.

Actu GP : Le microbiote intestinal impliqué dans l’infertilité masculine ? 19.03.2020 Does the gut microbiota play a role in male infertility? Read more
Actu GP : Le sperme, reflet du microbiote intime de l’homme 30.04.2020 Semen, a reflection of a man’s intimate microbiota Read more

Any advices to improve fertility considering microbiota plays a role?

I.S.-K.: Most important is to live a healthy life when trying to get pregnant. Environmental and lifestyle factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol intake and stress can affect fertility as well as under- or overweight. A healthy lifestyle also includes a diet that makes your microbiota thrive in the gut and vagina. My advice is to eat a diet rich in vegetables and fruits to feed your microbiota with fibres. Fermented foods like yoghurt, kefir, kimchi or sauerkraut will provide you with the important lactobacilli species that support your fertility.

Pr. Ina Schuppe Koistinen

"Most important is to live a healthy life when trying to get pregnant."

Pr. Ina Schuppe-Koistinen

Women should avoid hygiene habits that influence the sensitive skin in the vulva. Don’t use soap and products that contain perfumes, you don’t have to wash your vagina as it cleanses itself with a natural discharge. Washing would only destroy the vaginal microbiota in the vagina.

25.01.2023 Fermented vegetables: good reasons to include them in your diet Read more
The psychobiotic diet: might fermented or prebiotic-rich foods reduce stress? 13.02.2023 The psychobiotic diet: might fermented or prebiotic-rich foods reduce stress? Read more

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Sources

1. World Health Organization (WHO). Infertility. Sept 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility
2. Mascarenhas MN, Flaxman SR, Boerma T, et al. National, regional, and global trends in infertility prevalence since 1990: a systematic analysis of 277 health surveys. PLoS Med 2012;9(12):e1001356.
3. Vitale SG, Ferrari F, Ciebiera M, et al. The Role of Genital Tract Microbiome in Fertility: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Dec 24;23(1):180
4. Bokulich NA, Łaniewski P, Adamov A, et al. Multi-omics data integration reveals metabolome as the top predictor of the cervicovaginal microenvironment. PLoS Comput Biol. 2022 Feb 23;18(2):e1009876. 
5. Elkafas H, Wall M, Al-Hendy A, et al. Gut and genital tract microbiomes: Dysbiosis and link to gynecological disorders. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Dec 16;12:1059825.
6. Chen X, Lu Y, Chen T, et al. The Female Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Bacterial Vaginosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Apr 7;11:631972. 
7. Ravel J, Moreno I, Simón C. Bacterial vaginosis and its association with infertility, endometritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Mar;224(3):251-257
8. Koedooder R, Singer M, Schoenmakers S, et al. The vaginal microbiome as a predictor for outcome of in vitro fertilization with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a prospective study. Hum Reprod. 2019 Jun 4;34(6):1042-1054. 
9. Gonçalves MFM, Fernandes  R, Rodrigues AG, et al. Microbiome in Male Genital Mucosa (Prepuce, Glans, and Coronal Sulcus): A Systematic Review. Microorganisms. 2022 Nov 22;10(12):2312

Tags
Infertility Fertility Dysbiosis Endometriosis Pregnancy IVF Lactobacillus Vagina Microbiome Flora

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    Role of the vaginal microbiota in the health of the reproductive system and that of future generations
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