Reproductive tract microbiome and therapeutics of infertility

BackgroundThe microbiome is still a new area of research in human health and disease, especially in reproductive health. The present article aims to aid the perception on reproductive tract microbiome that may enable better management of its dysbiosis causing reproductive dysfunctions.Main bodyIn recent years, identification of microbiota in every part of human body has been eased by next-generation sequencing-based tools. It has been demonstrated that resident microbiota is vital for normal reproductive functions. The development of disease may result owing to changes in the microbiota brought about by internal or external factors. Female reproductive microbiota may be crucial in the success of assisted reproductive technologies such as embryo implantation and prenatal care. Though much has been learned about the vaginal microbiota, the uterine microbiome has gotten very little research attention. The impacts of well-known microorganisms including Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma tuberculosis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae have been well documented, resulting in subclinical alterations that are considered risk factors for infertility and poor reproductive outcomes. Research on microbiota of male reproductive system is still in its early stages, and there are numerous questions concerning how inflammation and urogenital infections might impact male fertility. Certain microorganisms reportedly can directly affect spermatozoon function without even inducing oxidative stress or inflammatory cytokines, but via adhering to the spermatozoon or producing soluble factors capable of altering sperm motility and/or inducing apoptosis.ConclusionThe presence of specific microbiota in the reproductive tract, regardless of their pathogenicity, or the alteration of the reproductive tract resident microbiota may pose issues with fertilization, implantation, pregnancy as well as embryo development. This may result in the failure of fertility treatments and a reduction in the number of live births.