The Endometrial Microbiota: Challenges and Prospects.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive biology
• Microbiome research
• Gynecology

Background:

• The endometrium, the uterine lining, is a low-biomass environment, unlike the vagina.
• Established methods for sampling and analyzing the endometrial microbiome lack consensus.
• Factors like ethnicity, age, and inflammation significantly impact the uterine microbiome's composition and diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complexities of the endometrial microbiome.
• To highlight the challenges in establishing a definitive healthy uterine microbial profile.
• To discuss the potential clinical implications of endometrial microbiota in women's health.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on endometrial microbiome sampling and composition.
• Analysis of factors influencing microbial diversity and abundance.
• Discussion of the role of dysbiosis in gynecological pathologies.

Main Results:

• The endometrial microbiome exhibits higher alpha-diversity than the vaginal microbiome.
• Lactobacillus, predominant in the vagina, may contaminate uterine samples, complicating interpretation.
• Chronic endometritis and dysbiosis are linked to inflammation, potentially affecting embryo implantation, endometriosis, and carcinogenesis.

Conclusions:

• A clear definition of a healthy endometrial microbiome is still lacking.
• Current research often involves small populations, limiting generalizability.
• Advancements in sampling and analysis techniques will likely integrate endometrial microbiota into future women's health diagnostics and therapeutics.