Characterization of the human endometrial microbiome and its risks associated in infertility patients: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction. Bacterial cells in the human body account for 1-3% of total body weight and are at least equal in number to human cells. Recent research has focused on understanding how the different bacterial communities in the body (eg, gut, respiratory, skin, and vaginal microbiomes) predispose to health and disease. For nearly 50 years, existing dogma has dictated that normal human endometrium is sacrosanct from microbial habitation in the absence of infection. However, while the vaginal microbiota has been investigated in depth, there is a paucity of consistent data regarding the existence of an endometrial microbiota and its possible impact in reproductive function.