title: Reproductive tract microbiome in assisted reproductive technologies.
abstract: The human microbiome has gained much attention recently for its role in health and disease. This interest has come as we have begun to scratch the surface of the complexity of what has been deemed to be our "second genome" through initiatives such as the Human Microbiome Project. Microbes have been hypothesized to be involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of assisted reproduction since before the first success in IVF. Although the data supporting or refuting this hypothesis remain somewhat sparse, thanks to sequencing data from the 16S rRNA subunit, we have begun to characterize the microbiome in the male and female reproductive tracts and understand how this may play a role in reproductive competence. In this review, we discuss what is known about the microbiome of the reproductive tract as it pertains to assisted reproductive technologies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Electronic address: jfranasiak@rmanj.com.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Franasiak
authors.affiliation: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Richard T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005835:Genitalia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D064307:Microbiota; D012098:Reproduction; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D021521:Ribotyping; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: IVF; Microbiome; infertility