Estrogen-degrading bacteria in women with premature ovarian failure

Abstract

Objectives Estimation of the level of follicle stimulation hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estrogen hormone, isolation of bacteria from premature ovarian failure (POF) women, detection of the ability of these bacteria to degrade the estrogen hormone using HPLC in aerobic and anaerobic condition.
Methods In this study, 60 women who suffered from POF; and have menopause at least 8 months after the last period, whose ages range between 20 and 39 years, venous blood samples and high vaginal swabs were collected from these patients who are admitted to the Children and Maternity Hospital and Al-Hilla Teaching Hospital in Hilla city/Iraq from the period of February to July 2015. Also, 40 women with no history of menopause with the age range approximately matched to that of patients as control group. These women were subjected to investigate FSH, LH, and estrogen hormone. Different types of bacteria isolated from the patients vagina were examined for their ability to lyse estrogen in vitro by using HPLC technique.
Results FSH and LH hormones showed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the concentration of these hormones in blood of patients when compared to healthy control women. While there is a significant decreasing in the concentration of EST hormone in these women as compared to healthy control. Out of 60 women patients with POF only 42 patients showed positive bacterial growth, while 18 patients show no growth. The bacterial isolates show a ability to degrade estradiol in aerobic and anaerobic condition. And the results demonstrating the ability of vaginal bacteria to exhaust the estrogen efficiently and that may affect the systemic estrogen levels in these women.
Conclusion FSH and LH used as diagnostic tools for detection of premature ovarian failure. Different bacterial types isolated from patients vagina show an efficient degradation of estrogen.