An updated study of the relationship between bacterial infections and women's immune system, focusing on bacterial compositions with successful pregnancy

J Reprod Immunol. 2024 Sep:165:104283. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104283. Epub 2024 Jun 25.

Abstract

Genital tract infections can cause a variety of harmful health outcomes, including endometritis, bacterial vaginosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease, in addition to infertility. Anaerobic bacteria, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Megasphaera spp., and Atopobium vaginae, are more commonly identified in cases of bacterial vaginosis than lactobacilli. It is unknown how the microorganisms that cause pelvic inflammatory diseases and endometritis enter the uterus. Both prospective and retrospective research have connected pelvic inflammatory disorders, chronic endometritis, and bacterial vaginosis to infertility. Similar to bacterial vaginosis, endometritis-related infertility is probably caused by a variety of factors, such as inflammation, immune system recognition of sperm antigens, bacterial toxins, and a higher risk of STDs. Preconception care for symptomatic women may include diagnosing and treating pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic endometritis, and bacterial vaginosis before conception to optimize the results of both natural and assisted reproduction.

Keywords: Bacterial composition; Immune system; Pregnancy; Women's health.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Bacterial Infections / immunology
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Endometritis* / diagnosis
  • Endometritis* / immunology
  • Endometritis* / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune System / immunology
  • Infertility, Female / immunology
  • Infertility, Female / microbiology
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / diagnosis
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / immunology
  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease / microbiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / microbiology
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / diagnosis
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / immunology
  • Vaginosis, Bacterial* / microbiology