Comparison of Vaginal, Cervical and Gut Microbiota Between Women with Stage 3/4 Endometriosis and Healthy Controls
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Women’s Health
Women’s Health
Women’s health, a vital aspect of medical science, encompasses various conditions unique to women’s physiological makeup. Historically, women were often excluded from clinical research, leading to a gap in understanding the intricacies of women’s health needs. However, recent advancements have highlighted the significant role that the microbiome plays in these conditions, offering new insights and potential therapies. MicrobiomeSignatures.com is at the forefront of exploring the microbiome signature of each of these conditions to unravel the etiology of these diseases and develop targeted microbiome therapies.
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Microbes
Microbes
Microbes, short for microorganisms, are tiny living organisms that are ubiquitous in the environment, including on and inside the human body. They play a crucial role in human health and disease, functioning within complex ecosystems in various parts of the body, such as the skin, mouth, gut, and respiratory tract. The human microbiome, which is […]
Microbiome Signatures identifies and validates condition-specific microbiome shifts and interventions to accelerate clinical translation. Our multidisciplinary team supports clinicians, researchers, and innovators in turning microbiome science into actionable medicine.
Karen Pendergrass
What was studied?
The study focused on exploring the associations between the microbiota of the vaginal, cervical, and gut regions and stage 3–4 endometriosis in women. This research aimed to uncover potential differences in the microbiome composition between women diagnosed with advanced endometriosis and healthy controls, particularly at the genus level of microbial classification.
Who was studied?
The participants included 14 women with histologically proven stage 3–4 endometriosis and 14 healthy controls. These women were carefully selected based on strict criteria to ensure the stability of the microbiota, excluding those who had ever been pregnant or had conditions/medications that could affect the microbiome. All participants belonged to the same ethnicity, and the study managed to maintain a balance between samples collected during different phases of the menstrual cycle in both groups.
What were the most important findings?
The study revealed that while the overall composition of the vaginal, cervical, and gut microbiota was similar between women with and without endometriosis, there were notable genus-level differences. Specifically, Atopobium was absent in the endometriosis group’s vaginal and cervical microbiota. Increases in Gardnerella in the cervical microbiota and Escherichia/Shigella in the gut were more common among those with endometriosis. Sensitivity analyses excluding Lactobacillus showed significant increases in Sneathia, Gardnerella, Streptococcus, Escherichia/Shigella, and Ureaplasma, and a decrease in Alloprevotella in the cervical microbiota of the endometriosis group.
What are the greatest implications of this study?
The findings suggest a potentially significant association between the composition of the female microbiota and the presence of stage 3–4 endometriosis, particularly regarding the absence and presence of specific microbial genera. These differences might offer insights into the pathophysiology of endometriosis and indicate potential diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets. Specifically, the study raises intriguing questions about the direction of causation between altered microbiota and endometriosis. It suggests the microbiome’s potential as both a screening tool for endometriosis and a therapeutic target, depending on whether changes in the microbiome are a cause or a consequence of the disease. The study also underscores the potential utility of gut microbiome analysis as a predictive tool for surgical decisions, such as the need for bowel resection to treat deep infiltrating endometriosis.
Overall, this research lays the groundwork for further studies to clarify the causal relationships between dysbiosis and endometriosis and to explore the microbiome’s role in the disease’s pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment.