Associations Between Dysmenorrhea Symptom-Based Phenotypes and Vaginal Microbiome: A Pilot Study.
Chen X Chen, Janet S Carpenter, Xiang Gao and 5 others
PMID 33813547WHAT IT FOUND
Compared with mild localized pain, severe widespread period pain was associated with less Lactobacillus crispatus and more Atopobium, Gardnerella, and Prevotella during menstruation in 20 young women.
Off-menses differences were absent. This pilot cannot change care.
Key findings
01During menstruation, bacterial community composition differed across phenotypes (p = .006), and the multiple severe symptoms phenotype had lower Lactobacillus crispatus and higher Atopobium, Gardnerella, and Prevotella taxa.
02Off-menses, bacterial community composition did not differ across phenotypes (p = .394).
03Across all 40 specimens combined, bacterial community composition differed across phenotypes (p = .009).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
The study included only 20 participants, and the sample size was based on funding availability and funding timeline. The severe localized pain group had only 2 participants, so comparisons involving that group were very limited. The sample was mostly White and African American/Black and was recruited from a university campus and a volunteer registry. The authors did not control for potential confounders such as race, sexual behaviors, douching, or menstrual product use because of limited sample size and variation. Some phenotypic comparisons were not significant after adjusting for multiple comparisons. The groups were defined by one self-report question, and the sample size was too small to group them statistically. The study was observational, so it cannot show that vaginal microbiome differences cause dysmenorrhea or that any treatment works.
Declared interests
The article types list NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support. Dr. Carpenter reports personal fees from RoundGlass Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., and Sojournix, and unpaid consulting with QUE oncology. Dr. Mitchell receives research funding from Merck and consulting fees from Scynexis and Gilead Sciences.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that vaginal bacteria cause severe dysmenorrhea or that changing them will relieve symptoms. The study was a 20-participant pilot, showed no off-menses differences, and reported non-significant results after multiple-comparison adjustment.