Chronic endometritis and fertility: A binomial linked by microorganisms

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Microbiology
• Gynecology

Background:

• Chronic endometritis (CE) is a persistent inflammation of the uterine lining, often linked to infertility.
• The role of the endometrial microbiota in the pathogenesis of CE is increasingly recognized.
• Understanding microbial shifts in CE is crucial for improving reproductive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between specific microorganisms and chronic endometritis.
• To compare local findings with existing literature on endometrial microbiota and CE.
• To identify microbial patterns associated with CE in women undergoing fertility treatments.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective descriptive study of 110 endometrial biopsies from women treated for fertility issues (2021-2022).
• Comparison of microbial findings between women diagnosed with and without chronic endometritis.
• Analysis of microorganism prevalence, focusing on Lactobacillus spp. and other common bacteria.

Main Results:

• Chronic endometritis was diagnosed in 50.91% of women.
• Microorganisms other than Lactobacillus spp. were significantly more prevalent in women with CE (p=0.009).
• Gardnerella vaginalis was the most frequent non-Lactobacillus isolate (10.71%), followed by Streptococcus species and Corynebacterium amycolatum.

Conclusions:

• The endometrial microbiota composition differs significantly between women with and without CE.
• A reduced proportion of Lactobacillus spp. and an increased proportion of Gardnerella spp. characterize CE.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the role of microorganisms in CE for therapeutic guidance and improved reproductive prognosis.