S01.4 Immune activation by the gut microbiome in HIV positive and negative men who have sex with men; potential implications for transmission and disease pathogenesis

Abstract

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), high diversity vaginal microbiota, and presence of specific BV-associated bacteria have been associated with an increased risk of reproductive outcomes including pelvic inflammatory disease, miscarriage, and preterm birth. The effects of BV and vaginal microbiota on fecundity and fertility in the context of non-medically assisted reproduction is not yet fully characterized. In this session, we will summarize what is known about the relationship between vaginal microbiota disruption and fertility among infertile populations undergoing in-vitro fertilization, discuss results from a recently published study assessing BV and fecundability – the per menstrual cycle probability of pregnancy – among Kenyan women trying to conceive, and identify key considerations for future studies of how the vaginal microbiota may influence conception, implantation, and early pregnancy.