Assessing different sampling methods for vaginal sampling for 16S amplicon sequencing, indicating technical difficulties with sampling after gel application

Vaginal microbiome plays an important role in maintaining the normal physiological environment of its host. Dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiome has been investigated in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially preterm birth. While an integral part of pregnant women's assessment includes the use vaginal gel lubrication, its presence during sampling may affect the microbial composition. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of gel lubrication on vaginal microbiome characterization.