Females with impaired ovarian function could be vulnerable to environmental pollutants: identification via next-generation sequencing of the vaginal microbiome

Abstract

The vaginal microbiome has been widely investigated. However, its relationship with impaired ovarian function has not been evaluated. We conducted a next-generation sequencing (NGS) study of the vaginal microbiome in females with normal and decreased ovarian function and analysed its sensitivity to environmental pollutants. Vaginal swabs were collected from 92 individuals (22 with impaired ovarian function). The 16S rDNA sequences were assembled by FLASH and clustered in OTUs. Diversity analysis was performed using QIIME. The impaired function group showed lower AMH (p < .01) and higher FSH (p = .04). Only two species showed significant differences: Propionibacterium acnes and Prevotella copri. Moreover, more environmental pollutants were related to changes in the vaginal microbiome in the impaired ovarian function group than in the normal group. Vaginal microbiomes in young women with decreased ovarian function tended to be more sensitive to environmental pollutants, especially volatile organic compounds.

Impact Statement

• What is already known on this subject? In this study, the possible influence of environmental pollutants, especially volatile organic compounds to ovarian function were identified via next-generation sequencing.

• What do the results of this study add? This is the first study that shows vaginal microbiomes in young women with decreased ovarian function to be more sensitive to environmental pollutants.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The association between impaired ovarian function and environmental pollutants from this study could be helpful when counselling patients with POI.

Keywords:

• Vaginal microbiome
• premature ovarian insufficiency
• environmental pollutants
• volatile organic compounds
• next-generation sequencing

Acknowledgements

Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by the ethical committee of Korea University Medical Centre Anam Hospital (no. 2016AN0251).

Consent for publication: All participants provided written informed consent for biological studies.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study was granted by the Korea Ministry of Environment (MOE) as 'The Environmental Health Action Program' (2016001360007).