Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38041079›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2023

Change of the vaginal microbiome with oral contraceptive therapy in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a 6-month longitudinal cohort study.

Xiang Hong, Pengfei Qin, Liting Gao, Lingling Huang, Yong Shi, Danhong Peng, Bei Wang

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
0.4field-weighted citation impact, top 38% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 2 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The Effects ofFood science & nutrition · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Xiang HongKey Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Pengfei QinThe Affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Women and Children's Healthcare Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Liting GaoSchool of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Lingling HuangKey Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Yong ShiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Danhong PengDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
Bei WangKey Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. wangbeilxb@163.com.ORCID 0000-0002-5232-0933
Southeast University · CNZhongda Hospital Southeast University · CNNanjing Children's Hospital · CN

Funding

Basic Research Program of Jiangsu Province BK20220827National Natural Science Foundation of China 82204057Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China 2022M720713
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe association between the vaginal microbiome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is reported, but the longitudinal changes in the vaginal microbiome that accompany oral contraceptive therapy have not been described.

methodsThis cohort study included 50 PCOS patients who wanted to make their menstrual periods more regular and accepted only oral contraceptive therapy and lifestyle coaching, then they were successfully followed up for 6 months. Venous blood was collected, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), total testosterone (T), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and estradiol (E2) were assayed at baseline and at months 3 and 6. Vaginal swabs were collected at baseline and at months 3 and 6. 16S rRNA genes were sequenced to identify the microbiota structure. Latent class trajectory models were used to explore the trajectory of the changes in Lactobacillus abundance.

resultsAt 3 months, all patients reported regular periods, and the improvement lasted until 6 months. The body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio decreased with treatment (P < 0.01), and the AMH and T levels showed downward trends. We did not find a statistically significant relationship between hormone levels at the previous time point and the vaginal microbiota at subsequent time points (P > 0.05). The relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased with treatment, and trajectory analysis revealed five classes of Lactobacillus changes. Class 1, stable high level, accounted for 26%; class 2, decrease followed by increase, accounted for 18%; class 3, stable low level, accounted for 10%; class 4, increase, accounted for 20%; class 5, increase followed by decrease, accounted for 26%. Logistic models showed that compared to class 1, a higher baseline T level was associated with a reduced risk of class 2 change (odds ratio (OR) = 0.03, 95% confidence interval (CI):0.01-0.52) and class 4 change (OR = 0.10, 95% CI:0.01-0.93).

conclusionsThe abundance of Lactobacilli increased with PCOS treatment; however, the trajectory was inconsistent for each individual. Evidence of the effects of female hormone levels on the vaginal microbiome is insufficient.

Indexed as

Polycystic Ovary SyndromeAnti-Mullerian HormoneCohort StudiesContraceptives, OralFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesLuteinizing HormoneRNA, Ribosomal, 16SAnti-Mullerian HormoneContraceptives, OralLuteinizing HormoneRNA, Ribosomal, 16SChange trajectoryCohort studyPolycystic ovary syndromeVaginal microbiome

Identifiers

PMID38041079
PMCPMC10693170
OpenAlexW4389224290

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.