The human microbiome and its relationship to several diseases is a new and evolving field of study. The uterine microbiome can be used to predict the chance of success of natural or assisted pregnancy. Possible contamination of the uterine microbiome during sampling hinders the ability to make conclusions about the possible relation between it and (sub)fertility. The sample is likely to get contaminated by the bacteria in the cervix, as the uterus has a low abundance of bacteria compared to the cervix.
A uterine microbiome sampling technique is created that can take a sample without contamination from the cervix. The gynaecologist has control over the moment the product opens and the location of sampling. The sample can be used for modern microbiological research like Next-Generation Sequencing.
Functional prototypes of the sampling technique are tested in an In Vitro Test at Medical Microbiology and Infection Control Department of the Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc. The test delivered the proof of principle that the idea has potential to be able to take a non-contaminated sample.
Follow-up studies are recommended with a sampler specifically designed for research purpose. The goal of this test is on what the relation is of the uterine microbiome and (sub)fertility. Based on these results, the use case should be more specified to be able to design a sampler for commercial use. A commercial sampler is still for the future, but the proof of principle of the sampling technique shows that the idea has potential to sample the uterine microbiome without contamination.