Association of Vaginal Microbiota With Signs and Symptoms of the Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Across Reproductive Stages.

ABSTRACT: The genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) describes signs and symptoms resulting from effects of estrogen deficiency on the female genitourinary tract, including the vagina, labia, urethra, and bladder. Signs/symptoms associated with GSM may occur during any reproductive stage from multiple etiologies but are most common during menopause due to low estrogen. Vaginal microbiota, particularly Lactobacillus spp., are beneficial to the female genital tract; however, their abundance declines during menopause. We aimed to longitudinally assess vaginal microbiota characterized by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and GSM-associated endpoints across reproductive stages. In a 2-year cohort study of 750 women aged 35-60 years at enrollment and 2 111 semiannual person-visits, low-Lactobacillus va

SUBMITTER: Shardell M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8361365 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature