Genital microbiota in infertile couples

Abstract

Bacteria colonise most of the human body and the genital tract is not an exception. While it has been known for decades that a vaginal microbiota exists, other genital sites have traditionally been viewed as sterile environments, with bacterial presence associated only with pathological conditions. However, recent studies identified specific patterns of bacterial colonisation in most genital sites. Shifts in the bacterial colonisation of the female genital tract have been linked to impairment of reproduction and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth. The goal of this project is to understand the association between the genital microbiota of couples seeking assisted procreation aid and the outcome of this treatment. Male and female partners will be studied as a unit ("couple microbiota") and the interaction between their microbiota will be evaluated. We have characterised microbial samples coming from vaginal and penile swabs, as well as follicular fluid and semen, using next generation sequencing (16S rRNA profiling). The results were linked to clinical data of the patients included in the study and particularly to the results of the fertility treatment process. With this project, we aim to gain a better understanding of how the male genital microbiota could influence the lower (vagina) and upper (follicular fluid) female genital tracts.