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Filter by:Chronic endometritis is an inflammatory condition of the endometrium. This inflammation can negatively affect fertility and pregnancy. The pathology is frequently (+-10%) observed in women with fertility problems. Today, diagnosis of chronic endometritis is not evident, since no well-validated classification scales are available. In the UZ Brussel the pathology department applies its own in-house scoring system, based on the presence and position of plasma cells within the histological images. Despite limited research so far, it recently became clear that the endometrium is colonized by micro-organisms (the microbiome). However, it is still unclear what role these microorganisms play in chronic endometritis and fertility problems. Chronic endometritis is often diagnosed in the context of fertility problems, and the patient is treated 'blindly' with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as doxycycline. Broad-spectrum antibiotics unnecessarily eradicate many microorganisms in our body, including the ones that positively influence implantation. The exact cause of chronic endometritis is unknown, so treatment remains empirical. The research and knowledge in the endometrial microbiome is constantly expanding, mainly due to the rise of research into the links between pathologies and human microbiota. It is becoming increasingly clear that the composition of the microbiome can play a vital role in health and disease. Regarding the influence of the endometrial microbiome on different pathologies, such as chronic endometritis and implantation failure or miscarriage, there is still no consensus. Despite multiple studies on the endometrial microbiome, we are not yet able to define a normal or healthy endometrial microbiome. In this project, we want to gain insight into the microorganisms that are present in the female reproductive tract based on various techniques. The analyses will performed on an endometrial biopsy and a vaginal swab. The biopsy is routinely taken at Brussels IVF for the detection of plasma cells in the anatomopathology lab for the diagnosis of chronic endometritis. In the microbiology lab we will investigate which microorganisms are present in the female reproductive tract with and without the histological diagnosis of chronic endometritis. This will be done based on the state-of-the-art analytical techniques metagenomics (sequencing) and culturomics (culture).
There is an increased prevalence of high Body mass index (BMI) all over the world.High BMI is shown to have an impact on the female reproductive system.It can contribute to both ovulatory and anovulatory subfertility. Clomiphene citrate and Letrozole have been used for treatment of infertility.Both are used for induction of ovulation. Clomiphene citrate is an estrogen receptor antagonist .It increases serum FSH and it has its limitation due to his antiestrogenic effect,it has an ovulation rate 70-80% but pregnancy rate is only 22% because of its anti-estrogenic effect on endometrium and poor cervical mucus (Legro RS et al.,2007) Letrozole is an aromatase inhibitor which inhibits the production of estrogen, which influences the action of the brain's hypothalamus and pituitary on the functioning of the ovaries by increasing FSH.Due to the antiestrogenic effect of clomiphene citrate,Letrozole can be used as an alternative. The investigators are comparing the effect of both medications on the outcome of the induction of ovulation in women with high BMI.