Published on
Updated
Reading 3 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Odile Bagot (Gynecologist-obstetrician)
Medical validation:
January 20, 2023
Two American studies highlight the role of the microbiome in the occurrence of illnesses or complications during childbirth. Update on these results with the help of Odile Bagot, gynecologist.
If we have known for a long time that the intestinal microbiota plays a decisive role in our health, the protective effect of the vaginal flora is mentioned much less. And yet: if the intimate microbiota is unbalanced, many inconveniences can occur. Explanations.
Ovarian cancer: the composition of the microbiota helps in diagnosis
In the first study, conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers, samples of reproductive tract microbiota from 30 women who underwent hysterectomy for ovarian cancer and 34 patients who had this operation for another disease have been studied.
After analysis, the researchers claim that the bacterial composition of the intimate microbiome could be an indicator of the risk of ovarian cancer.
“We found a clear pattern that reveals that women with early-stage ovarian cancer have a significantly higher accumulation of pathogenic microbes compared to women with other advanced-stage disease.“, explains Professor Abigail Asangba, researcher at the Center for Individualized Medicine at the Mayo Clinic.
The bacteria found could thus help in the diagnosis of cancer, according to the researchers.
“In later stages, the number of microbes fades. This strong signal could potentially help us diagnose women earlier and save lives. The same way a non-invasive Pap test is used to detect cervical cancer.”
If this research seems interesting, it must nevertheless be taken with a bit of perspective, according to Dr. Odile Bagot.
“In this study, the researchers tried to establish an early diagnosis of ovarian cancer by analyzing the vaginal flora of the participants – here slightly disturbed. However, an imbalance of the microbiota does not necessarily lead to ovarian cancer. We are therefore still very far from a concrete indicator and have no practical application of this theory, neither in screening, nor in monitoring, nor in prevention.“, underlines the expert, before adding “Conversely, the tumor antigen CA125 is a proven indicator.”
The vaginal flora involved in premature births
The second study, published in the journal Nature Microbiologyhighlights the link between the presence of chemicals in the vaginal flora and prematurity.
To reach these conclusions, the scientists observed 232 women during their second trimester of pregnancy until they gave birth. They took a close interest in the vaginal metabolome of women, that is to say in all the molecules present in the intimate flora.
However, the volume of these molecules was particularly high in candidates who gave birth prematurely (ie before the end of pregnancy, ie before 37 weeks of amenorrhea).
“Many of these metabolites are chemicals that are not produced by the human body or microbes“says one of the study’s researchers, Prof. Tal Korem. Therefore, “we need to take a closer look at whether common environmental exposures are in fact causing premature births and, if so, where these exposures come from“.
An association that is not new, according to Odile Bagot.
“The correlation between the deterioration of the vaginal flora and the risk of premature delivery has already been made. A number of toxins can also be potential endocrine disruptors, causing flora disorders or premature deliveries. This is why, when you are pregnant, you must avoid chemical products as much as possible and consume as much organic food as possible.“, concludes the expert.