VAGINAL MICROBIOME ALTERATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME

Gabriela Makulec; Damian Zienkiewicz; Karolina Domosud; Julia Maria Kostro; Lizaveta Novik; Maciej Jakub Kozicki; Anna Libera; Karolina Bartkiewicz; Zofia Jędra

doi:10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5079

Authors

Gabriela Makulec Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1357-1340
Damian Zienkiewicz Praga Hospital of the Transfiguration, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7263-1545
Karolina Domosud Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4345-2188
Julia Maria Kostro Stefan Żeromski Specialist Hospital, Kraków, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3455-2825
Lizaveta Novik Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2181-2284
Maciej Jakub Kozicki Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-1966-0306
Anna Libera Provincial Hospital in Kielce, Kielce, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6806-3014
Karolina Bartkiewicz Medical University of Warsaw (WUM), Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3082-7272
Zofia Jędra Professor W. Orłowski Independent Public Clinical Hospital, Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5449-9546

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.2(50).2026.5079

Keywords:

PCOS, Vaginal Microbiome, Vaginal Dysbiosis, Lactobacillus, Reproductive Tract Microbiota

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in the population of reproductive-age women. Although there is considerable research on gut dysbiosis in PCOS, alterations in the vaginal microbiome are comparatively understudied, despite their possible reproductive implications. The main aim of this review was to summarize current evidence regarding vaginal microbiome composition in women with PCOS and evaluate its associations with relevant clinical parameters. A literature search was performed using PubMed for studies published between January 2015 and November 2025. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, each examining vaginal microbiome composition in women with PCOS. The most important findings included reduced Lactobacillus dominance, increased alpha-diversity, and enrichment of anaerobic taxa, such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella, and Ureaplasma species. Current evidence indicates that vaginal dysbiosis is more common among women with PCOS than in healthy controls, though it is not universal. Causal relationships in this field remain unclear, and data on interventions are insufficient. Randomized controlled trials evaluating interventions that target the microbiome and their impact on reproductive outcomes are an important research priority.

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