Many sexually transmitted diseases are caused by bacteria. While we fairly well understand the role of some microorganisms in the development of genitourinary tract infections, there is still a vast majority of those whose contribution is unclear. It is believed that sexual partners share their genitourinary microbiota, meaning that treatment regimens should be the same for both of them. This article reports results of the study of seminal and cervical microbial communities conducted in 50 married couples who did not use barrier birth control and did not take any antibiotics at least 3 months before the study. All couples presented with complaints of primary or secondary infertility, recurrent miscarriages or sought preconceptional counseling. The mean age of male and female participants was 34.8 ± 7.8 and 30.4 ± 6.2 years, respectively. Samples of the seminal fluid and vaginal secretions were studied by real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) with Androflor and Femoflor reagent kits. The following bacteria were more frequent in the vaginal microbiota than in the seminal fluid: Lactobacillus spp. Ureaplasma spp. was 3 times more frequent in women, Mycoplasma hominis was 4 times more frequent in men; however, this difference was not significant. In 4 (8 %) couples both partners had normal microbiota; 23 (46 %) couples shared at least one microbiota resident. Also, microbial communities were totally different in 23 couples. The obtained data indicate that both sexual partners should be examined to decide on the most effective treatment for each of them. Qualitative and quantitative real-time PCR assays Androflor and Femoflor provide comprehensive data essential for adequate treatment planning. . Ureaplasma spp. в 3 раза чаще встречалась у женщин, а Mycoplasma hominis -в 4 раза чаще у мужчин, но различия статистически недостоверны. В 4 (8 %) супружеских парах у обоих партнеров была абсолютно нормальная микрофлора эякулята и цервикального канала; в 23 (46 %) парах были вы-явлены совпадения между биотопами по одному и более микроорганизмам; также в 23 парах биотопы полностью не совпадали. Полученные данные указывают на необходимость обследовать обоих партнеров в паре для выбора эффективного лечения каждого из них. Метод ПЦР-РВ с тестами «Андрофлор» и «Фемофлор», являясь качественным и количественным, позволяет получить врачу все данные, необходимые для планирования терапии.Ключевые слова: эякулят, цервикальный канал, урогенитальный тракт, супружеская пара, биотоп, микробиоценоз, микробиота, полимеразная цепная реакция, ПЦР-РВ, «Андрофлор», «Фемофлор»

Popularization of the real-time polymerase chain reaction method (RT-PCR), which is a trend of the recent years, allowed to significantly expand of the range of microorganisms that can be detected in the genitourinary tract of men. Moreover, the available picture of the microbiome's bacterial component structure became more detailed. Lactobacillus spp. remains one of the least studied groups of microorganisms. Treating patients with reproductive disorders, the authors have accumulated clinical experience demonstrating the possible relationship between presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the ejaculate and changes in the level of sex hormones and the key values registered with a spermogram. This study aimed to compare the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, estradiol, prolactin, progesterone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in blood serum and changes in spermogram values in 210 men with and without Lactobacillus spp. detected in their ejaculate. The treatment group included 105 men whose ejaculate had Lactobacillus spp. in the amount of (Lg) ≥ 103, as detected by RT-PCR. The control group included 105 men whose ejaculate did not have Lactobacillus spp. detected; the microbiome's bacterial component structure of their ejaculate was normal. Compared to the control group, treatment group had hormonal disorders registered more often: abnormal levels of three or more hormones (p = 0.04), hyperestradiolemia (p = 0.05), increased level of SHBG (p = 0.01). It was established that the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the ejaculate of treatment group participants is associated with oligoastenoteratozoospermia (p < 0.01), decreased concentration of spermatozoa (p = 0.01), their decreased motility (p < 0.01) morphology abnormalities (p < 0.01). Thus, the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in the ejaculate can be interpreted as an additional marker of hormonal imbalance and fertility dysfunction in men.