Microbiome: “microorganisms who live inside you and affect your fertility”
It was traditionally believed that bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that live in our body were always harmful, but this is not the case. They are essential to achieve the balance of our body: the microbiome is the set of those microorganisms that live in our body. Thanks to the genetic techniques of massive sequencing, it has been possible to analyze all the microorganisms that share space with us, showing that they are essential for a correct balance of our health.
The microbiota of the female reproductive system contributes to an adequate balance and good reproductive health, so that its alteration can lead to gynaecological problems and difficulties in achieving pregnancy.
Microbiome and its impact on embryo implantation failure or recurrent miscarriage
Recent research shows its relationship with a proper pregnancy achievement and evolution. At Instituto Bernabeu we are pioneers in the microbiome study and its implication in fertility. Alterations in the vaginal microbiome could explain cases of embryo implantation failure and / or repeat miscarriages, where all today’s conventional tests are normal.
We offer to this group of patients the study of their vaginal microbiota. Thus, those women with an altered pattern could normalize their microbiome, improving the reproductive prognosis and the possibility of achieving pregnancy.
It could represent a paradigm shift in current knowledge about embryo implantation and achieving pregnancy in the early stages of gestation.
Instituto Bernabeu has discovered that the results of the vaginal and endometrial microbiome analysis are similar at the clinical level, which is why the vaginal sample is preferred since it is more comfortable, less invasive and painless for the patient.
Its analysis is simple, it is performed by obtaining a sample of vaginal discharge in a check-up similar to a normal gynaecological examination. If the microbiome is altered, we must treat it to normalize it and improve reproductive prognosis.
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- Microbiome analysis in patients with embryo implantation failure
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- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Dra. Andrea Bernabeu, gynaecologist atInstituto Bernabeu.