Difference in vaginal microbiota composition between infertile and fertile patients: A prospective study

Dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, characterized by loss of Lactobacillus spp. (classified into five community state types: CSTs, I-V) dominance, is associated with female infertility. In this research, while the role of CST I, CST II, CST III, and CST V has gained considerable attention, studies focusing on CST IV are limited. This prospective study aimed to analyze the differences in the composition of vaginal microbiota, with a particular focus on CST IVA and CST IVB, between fertile and infertile females.