ArticleJournal of assisted reproduction and genetics2025
Vaginal microbiota correlations to gynecological symptoms, intimate hygiene practices, and background parameters of IVF patients: a cross-sectional study.
Article in Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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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.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Effect of menstrual cups on vaginal health, reproductive tract and urogenital infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis.EBioMedicine · 2026Pooled it
- Sub-optimal menstrual materials and vaginal microbiome disruption in women relying on sex for livelihood.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeTo investigate baseline parameters and vaginal intimate hygiene habits comparing IVF patients with and without vaginal dysbiosis, a cross-sectional study.
methodsPatients were grouped by the presence of vaginal dysbiosis status determined by a qPCR method (high quantities of Gardnerella spp. and/or Fannyhessea vaginae) and a 16S rRNA gene sequencing-based method (VALENCIA). Patients were asked to fill out a questionnaire alongside an interview with healthcare personnel. Prevalence ratios (PR) were computed in case of statistically significant findings between groups.
resultsAmong 1511 patients, the prevalence of vaginal dysbiosis by qPCR was 34%, and the prevalence of community state type IV was 32%. Prevalence of vaginal dysbiosis was higher with increasing BMI, BMI 25-30 (PR 1.23 (95% CI 1.05-1.44) and BMI > 30 (PR 1.50 (1.24-1.82). Fishy odor was reported relatively rarely, but vaginal dysbiosis was significantly more prevalent in the presence of fishy odor, PR 1.72 (95% CI 1.39-2.11). Finally, vaginal douching was highly prevalent and correlated significantly to vaginal dysbiosis, PR 1.31 (95% CI 1.11-1.53). In a sub-study, we interviewed N = 10 women about vaginal douching, and all of them reported the use of douching with the intention to feel clean, thus contradicting general recommendations.
conclusionsThe high prevalence of vaginal dysbiosis in IVF patients is predominantly a subclinical condition which is linked to lifestyle and intimate hygiene habits.
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