Open AccessAssociations Between Dysmenorrhea Symptom-Based Phenotypes and Vaginal Microbiome
Author(s) -
Chen X. Chen,
Janet S. Carpenter,
Xiang Gao,
Evelyn Toh,
Qunfeng Dong,
David E. Nelson,
Caroline Mitchell,
J. Dennis Fortenberry
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nursing research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1538-9847
pISSN - 0029-6562
DOI - 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000510
Subject(s) - microbiome , medicine , phenotype , menstrual cycle , physiology , bioinformatics , biology , gene , hormone , biochemistry
Dysmenorrhea is highly prevalent; it places women at risk for other chronic pain conditions. There is a high degree of individual variability in menstrual pain severity, the number of painful sites, and co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Distinct dysmenorrhea symptom-based phenotypes were previously identified, but the biological underpinnings of these phenotypes are less known. One underexplored contributor is the vaginal microbiome. The vaginal microbiota differs significantly among reproductive-age women and may modulate as well as amplify reproductive tract inflammation, which may contribute to dysmenorrhea symptoms.