Bacterial colonization of the non-pregnant uterus: A study of pre-menopausal abdominal hysterectomy specimens

Chronic endometritis: correlation among hysteroscopic, histologic, and bacteriologic findings in a prospective trial with 2190 consecutive office hysteroscopies

“…This is not surprising considering the high prevalence in the population of bacterial vaginosis and the knowledge that ascending bacteria can colonize the uterine cavity (8,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21). Our data agree with previous reports that suggested a potential pathogenic role…”

Diagnosis of chronic endometritis in biopsies with stromal breakdown

“…The plasma cells might be related to subacute undocumented genitourinary tract infection. Microorganisms have been recovered from the endometrial cavity of nonpregnant women after hysterectomy under conditions that minimize the risk of specimen contamination [11,12] and from samples obtained by transfundal aspiration of the endometrial cavity in postpartum patients undergoing tubal ligation [13]. Romero et al [14] have found that infertility due to early implantation failure may be mediated by bacterial endotoxin and host cytokines related to both upper and lower (vaginal/urinary) tract infections.…”

Colonization of second-trimester placenta parenchyma

“…[1][2][3][4][5] This phenomenon is also observed for the endometrium of women between pregnancies, [6][7] raising the possibility that gravid deciduas also frequently harbor bacteria.…”

“…Trans-cervical sampling techniques result in more frequent recovery of microorganisms than samples obtained by transabdominal endometrial aspirations 6,8 or from surgically removed specimens 3,4 . This has led to the impression that many of the microorganisms recovered represent contamination by the vaginal microflora.…”