Fertility and sterilityJun 3, 2020

Changes in gut bacteria linked to polycystic ovary syndrome identified by genetic analysis

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Apr 3, 2026

Abstract

In a study of 14 women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), several microbial strains were found to be statistically significantly more abundant compared to a control group of 14 women.

Specific microbial strains such as Parabacteroides merdae, Bacteroides fragilis, and strains of Escherichia and Shigella were more prevalent in women with PCOS.
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was found to be enriched in the control group.
Microbial profiles of the PCOS group showed a negative correlation with those of the control group.
A positive correlation was observed between certain microbial strains in the PCOS group and clinical parameters, including higher body mass index and elevated hormone levels.
Functional changes in the gut microbiome may suggest mechanisms by which microbial imbalances contribute to the development of PCOS.

Simplified

OBJECTIVE: To identify different microbial species in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and reveal a possible relationship between gut dysbiosis and pathological changes.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Academic institution.

PATIENT(S): Reproductive-aged women with PCOS (n = 14) and controls (n = 14) from the Centre for Reproductive Medicine.

INTERVENTION(S): Shotgun metagenomic sequencing on fecal samples from patients, and clinical parameters (including body mass index, endocrine hormone levels, and glycemia level) gathered for correlation analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Identification of different gut microbial strains and relativity between microbiota and clinical parameters.

RESULT(S): We found several microbial strains were statistically significantly more abundant in the PCOS group, including Parabacteroides merdae, Bacteroides fragilis, and strains of Escherichia and Shigella, whereas Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was enriched in the control group. Metagenomic species (MGS) analysis revealed that the microbes of the PCOS group were negatively correlated with those of the control group. Of note, we observed a positive correlation between MGS relevant to PCOS and endocrine disorders, including body mass index and elevated levels of serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and antimüllerian hormone. Functional alterations, reflected by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes orthologues, could imply potential mechanisms of microbial involvement in the developmental progress of PCOS.

CONCLUSION(S): Our findings suggest an intimate association and potential mechanisms linking microbial dysbiosis and the pathophysiologic changes of PCOS. We address the importance of monitoring and modulating microbial composition and functional shifts in future clinical practice.

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Changes in gut bacteria linked to polycystic ovary syndrome identified by genetic analysis

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