Role of the vaginal microbiome in miscarriage: exploring the relationship

Abstract

Miscarriage is a devastating pregnancy loss that affects many women worldwide. It is characterized as a spontaneous miscarriage that occurs before 20 weeks of gestation which affects more than 25% of pregnancies. While the causes of miscarriage are complex and multifactorial, recent research has suggested a potential role of the vaginal microbiota. The vaginal microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem of microbes that are essential for preserving vaginal health and avoiding infections. Vaginal dysbiosis has been accompanied with numerous adverse pregnancy complications, such as preterm birth. However, the effect of the vaginal microbiome in miscarriage is not fully understood. This review aims to investigate the link between vaginal microbiota and miscarriage. Also, we investigate the various mechanisms through which the vaginal microbiota may affect miscarriage. Additionally, we examine the implications of these research findings, specifically the possibility of vaginal microbiome screening and targeted interventions to prevent miscarriage.

The Impact of Emotional Responses on Female Reproduction: Fibrinolysis in the Spotlight

“…Hypofibrinolytic conditions associated with miscarriage other than emotional responses include inflammation (as with obesity, 56 gut dysbiosis, 57 periodontitis, 58 bacterial vaginosis, 59 inflammatory bowel disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, or rheumatoid arthritis 60 ), hyperhomocysteinemia, 61 hypothyroidism, 62 and Cushing's syndrome. 60 Although significant, the effect of antiphospholipid antibodies 63 or the 4G/4G genotype 64 on miscarriage is not as strong as that of obesity, hypercortisolemia, or hyperhomocysteinemia.…”

Gonorrhoeae must Compete with the Naturally Inhabitant of Microbial Community Right at the Outer Mucosal Surface to Authorize Infection

“…"The vaginal microflora plays a pivotal role in early maternal-neonatal health condition" [34][35][36][37]. Shift in microbiota composition and number (dysbiosis) during pregnancy are associated with negative reproductive outcomes, such as the likelihood of miscarriage due to elevated inflammation and infection [38] and preterm birth where it is realizable that some cases of preterm labor may be due to haematogenous proliferation of organisms, which was previously present in the vagina and is part of the normal microbiome, to the placenta and uterus [39]. Previous study regarding normal flora in pregnant women publicized that all-inclusive microbiome profiles could not be distinguished based on pregnancy condition [40].…”

“…For example, human vaginal population acquiescent by Lactobacillus crispatus is able to reduce the risk of STI's agent accession, including HIV [30,43]. In addition, women with bacterial vaginosis (BV), irrespective of whether the BV is symptomatic or not, a clinical condition characterized by (a) significant reduction in numbers of Lactobacillus species [44], (b) increased diversity of miscellaneous groups of obligate and facultative anaerobes [45], (c) increased risk of adverse reproductive and obstetric outcomes [38,39],and (d) consequential risk of acquiring and transmitting STI, including N. gonorrhoeae and HIV [1,2,8,43,46].…”