Abstract
Reproductive tract dysbiosis, due to the action of pathogens and/or unhealthy lifestyle, has been related to many reproductive diseases and disorders in mammalian species. Classically, such a problem has been confronted by the administration of antibiotics. Despite their effectiveness for controlling disease, treatments with antibiotics may negatively affect the fertility of males and females and, mainly, may induce antibiotic resistance. Accordingly, safer alternatives for maintaining reproductive system eubiosis, such as probiotics, are required. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the biodiversity of the microbiota at the reproductive tract, possible changes in the case of dysbiosis, and their relationships with adequate reproductive health and functioning in both females and males. Afterwards, mechanisms of action and benefits of different probiotics are weighed since the biological activities of probiotics may provide a promising alternative to antibiotics for maintaining and restoring reproductive eubiosis and function. However, at present, it is still necessary for further research to focus on: (a) identifying mechanisms by which probiotics can affect reproductive processes; (b) the safety of probiotics to the host, specifically when consumed during sensitive reproductive windows such as pregnancy; and (c) the hazards instructions and regulatory rules required for marketing these biological-based therapies with sufficient safety. Thus, in this review, to draw a comprehensive overview with a relatively low number of clinical studies in this field, we showed the findings of studies performed either on human or animal models. This review strategy may help provide concrete facts on the eligible probiotic strains, probiotics colonization and transfer route, and prophylactic and/or therapeutic effects of different probiotic strains.
Highlights
Plenty of unfriendly factors can adversely affect the community of the reproductive tract’s microbiome in both human beings and/or animals because of either modern lifestyle or industrialization and intensification of production, leading to reproductive tract dysbiosis and the need for restoring a eubiotic state.Reproductive dysbiosis has been related to several reproductive disorders and infertility
The dysbiosis of the reproductive tract microbiota due to the action of pathogens and/or unhealthy lifestyle has been related to many reproductive diseases and disorders in both humans and animal models
Recent studies have focused on the possible roles of different probiotics in restoring the reproductive tract eubiosis
Summary
Plenty of unfriendly factors can adversely affect the community of the reproductive tract’s microbiome in both human beings and/or animals because of either modern lifestyle or industrialization and intensification of production, leading to reproductive tract dysbiosis and the need for restoring a eubiotic state. The use of antibiotics and the use of probiotics are basically two hypothesized approaches that could be used to control reproductive tract microbiota. In this context, several studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of antibiotics to tackle many reproductive microbial infectious diseases and related infertility [1–3]. The widespread use of antibiotics poses a serious health risk due to the development and spread of multiple-antibiotic-resistant microbial species [5] These aspects evoke scientists to find more safe and ecofriendly alternatives for maintaining reproductive system eubiosis, such as probiotics. Many studies have shown the positive effects of probiotics-based therapies on reproductive health in human [6–9] and animal models [10,11]. The present review sheds the light on: 1- the relationships between reproductive tract eubiosis/dysbiosis and reproductive health and functioning; 2- the use of probiotics for maintaining and restoring reproductive eubiosis and function with emphasis on their properties, mechanisms of action, and benefits for reproductive function; 3- the safety of probiotics to the host; and 4- the litigation and regulatory rules required for marketing these biological-based therapies
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