Evidence mapPaperPMID 42394823Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology2026

Distinctive reproductive tract microbial characteristics associated with infertility in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Zhi-Yong Xiao, Yu-Xin Zhang, Jia-Jia Liu, Xiao-Yan Zheng, Han Yang, Jie Wu, Jie Yang

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Zhi-Yong Xiao *Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Yu-Xin Zhang *Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jia-Jia LiuAcupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Xiao-Yan ZhengAcupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Han YangDivision of Internal Medicine, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jie WuHospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jie YangAcupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate α-diversity alterations, summarize microbial taxa reported to be associated with infertility, and examine site-specific differences in reproductive tract microbiota between infertile and fertile women via systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources: Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science were searched from inception to December 30, 2025, supplemented by clinical trial registries, conference proceedings, and manual reference screening. Study eligibility criteria: Observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort) including women 18-45 years with infertility versus healthy fertile controls, using high-throughput sequencing of reproductive tract microbiota, reporting α-diversity or taxa abundance. Excluded randomized controlled trials (RCTs), animals, reviews. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: PRISMA-compliant review. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for quality, the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) for evidence. Random-effects meta-analysis with standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% credible interval (CrI); I² for heterogeneity; subgroup and sensitivity analyses by site. Results: Twenty-seven studies with 2174 participants were included. Infertile women had higher α-diversity (Shannon SMD 0.27 [0.10 to 0.44; I² = 40%], Simpson SMD 0.24 [0.01 to 0.47; I² = 52%], ACE SMD 0.43 [0.15 to 0.71; I² = 33%]). Conclusions: Infertile women show site-specific microbiota patterns, including reduced Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD420251275219.

Indexed as

BacteriaGenitalia, FemaleInfertility, FemaleMicrobiotaAdultFemaleHumansLactobacillusVaginafemale infertilitymeta-analysismicrobial dysbiosisreproductive tract microbiotaα-diversity

Identifiers

PMID42394823
PMCPMC13323244

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.