Microbiome Molecular Analysis can be used to determine whether uterine microenvironment is normal or whether pre-treatment (antibiotics and probiotics) should be suggested for a specific period of time, in order to influence the microbiome towards a healthier population. This suggests a great benefit not only for women undergoing IVF, but also for every woman wishing to conceive.

An initial analysis can be performed on a menstrual fluid sample. This represents a combined uterine and vaginal sample.

Gene Diagnosis Microbiome Molecular Analysis (MbMA) test – €300:

We now perform a panel of tests run by Gene Diagnosis lab in Athens, which comprises:

• Lactobacillus spp.
• Enterobacteriaceae
• Streptococcus spp.
• Staphylococcus
• Enterococcus spp.
• Gardnerella vaginalis+ Prevotella bivia + Porphyromonas spp.
• Eubacterium spp.
• Sneathia spp. + Leptotrichia spp. + Fusobacterium spp.
• Megasphaera spp. + Veillonella spp. + Dialister spp.
• Lachnobacterium spp. + Clostridium spp.
• Mobiluncus spp. + Corynebacterium spp.
• Peptostreptococcus spp.
• Atopobium vaginae
• Mycoplasma hominis
• Mycoplasma genitalium
• Ureaplasma (urealyticum + parvum)
• Chlamydia trachomatis
• Neisseria
• Candida spp.
• HSV1
• HSV2
• HHV6

Since posting is becoming difficult, you can collect the sample and bring it with you on your first visit. If there is no possibility of collecting the sample, we can easily take a biopsy at Serum on your first visit.

In order to perform the test, we need a few drops of your menstrual fluid in a clean container, the kind used to collect urine for culture, which you can generally buy very cheaply from your local pharmacy.

IMPORTANT: Please use a clean container with a SCREW top -the safest option is Sterilin Polystyrene 7ml containers- to prevent the sample from being spilled and contaminated during transfer.

1. Collect a few drops of your menstrual blood in a small, clean container. You will probably find this easier during times of heavy flow i.e., on day 2 or 3 of your period, but only a small amount of blood is needed.

There are several ways you can do it:

1. Use a Mooncup (available at Boots)
2. Use a boiled teaspoon
3. Squeeze a few drops of blood from a tampon

Or simply hold the container up to your vagina after lying down for a while.

1. Add a little normal saline solution e.g., contact lens saline, or COLD boiled water (5-10 ml). Do not fill the container – the extra liquid is only needed to prevent the sample from drying out before it reaches the lab.

You know you have sufficient when you can shake all the contents down to the bottom of the bottle, and the blood mixes with the saline turning it pink/red.

1. Screw the cap on tightly, and ensure the container is labelled with your name and date-of-birth.
2. Put the container in a sealed plastic bag, then in a strong cardboard box with some soft, absorbent packaging material, bubble wrap or cotton wool to protect the container from breaking.
3. Add a cover letter, containing:

• contact details (name and email)
• your date of birth

You can store the sample in the fridge (NOT the freezer) for several weeks if necessary. A sample can be valid for about a month. Please bring it with you on the first visit. In case you cannot collect it, we will easily take a biopsy here.

You may want to keep a backup sample in the fridge at home until your sample has been successfully tested just in case of loss or breakage.

Patrycja Czenczek
26, Sofokli Venizelou Avenue,
141 23 Lyk­ovrysi, Attica
Greece

If you do not have natural periods, you should be able to generate a bleed by taking 21/28 days of Cyclacur (any cyclical HRT).

You should start bleeding 3-5 days after the last pill in the packet.

You may be able to get a prescription for cyclical HRT from your GP. Alternatively, we can send you a prescription you can use in the UK or anywhere in the EU.

Alternatively, you can easily have a biopsy here on your first visit.

Where the male partner has symptoms, or the semen analysis is suggestive of infection, we may recommend doing a culture on a fresh sample of semen to identify the species of infection present, and, by testing with samples of antibiotics, determine which antibiotics are capable of killing the specific species.

We have had a lot of success in improving sperm parameters and pregnancy rates after giving antibiotics where a positive result was detected. But we would generally tend to suggest testing the female partner only, unless the male partner has symptoms of infection.

If either partner tests positive on any of our tests, it is prudent to assume that the other is also at risk of having the infection. So, we would always suggest that both partners take the antibiotic treatment simultaneously and use condoms until the antibiotic course is completed.

Where sperm parameters improve very markedly after antibiotic treatment, we recommend that men repeat the course every 2 years, as protection from potential urinary and prostate problems caused by recurrent infection.

Your results will usually be ready within 8- 10 working days after we receive your sample.

Once we receive your test results and we have proof of your payment, we will send you a copy of your results by email.

If your results are positive, we will recommend suitable antibiotics to treat any infection detected, and post or email you a prescription for them if you need it. (If you are not a patient of our clinic, we reserve the right to make a charge of 100€ for arranging your prescription).

Please note that we liaise with the laboratory and advise on the antibiotics purely to help your treatment and we do not make a mark-up offering these tests.

Although some women will have no scarring in the uterus as a result of an infection (only inflammation, which will reduce after antibiotic treatment), a positive result tends to indicate a higher risk of significant uterine scarring and adhesions. So, we are more likely to recommend a hysteroscopy if your test result is positive.

We’ve also noticed that women whose progesterone level is unusually low tend to test positive for pathogenic species, which has led us to suspect that bacteria may be interfering with progesterone metabolism. Antibiotic treatment can address this, as can monitoring with blood tests, and, where necessary, increasing the dose of progesterone we use during an IVF or natural cycle.

Please note

Some couples will find it upsetting to discover they have an infection, particularly if they have been together for many years.

It can be helpful to remember that once an infection passes above the cervix or down to the testicles, it can be resident for decades. Other evidence shows that such infections can be transmitted during birth from mother to child (sometimes called ‘vertical transmission’).

Thus, there is no shame in finding you have an infection. Such infections are common and widespread. Some of them have been shown to be present in a high proportion of women who have never had sexual intercourse or who have only had intercourse with women.

We usually find that discovering an infection is a positive step as detecting and treating it is often easy and can result in your long-awaited pregnancy.