Influence of the menstrual cycle on the oral microbial flora in women: a case-control study including men as control subjects

Fischer, Carolin C; Persson, Rigmor E; Persson, G Rutger (2008). Influence of the menstrual cycle on the oral microbial flora in women: a case-control study including men as control subjects. Journal of periodontology, 79(10), pp. 1966-73. Chicago, Ill.: American Academy of Periodontology 10.1902/jop.2008.080057

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Changes in the levels of female sex hormones during the menstrual cycle may cause cyclic differences in subgingival bacterial colonization patterns. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle cause changes in the oral microbiota. METHODS: Bacterial plaque samples were collected in 20 systemically and periodontally healthy women using no hormonal contraceptives (test group) over a period of 6 weeks. Twenty age-matched systemically and periodontally healthy men were assigned to the control group. Samples were processed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization assay, and 74 species were analyzed. RESULTS: No cyclic pattern of bacterial colonization was identified for any of the 74 species studied in women not using hormonal contraceptives. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (previously Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans) (Y4) was common at the beginning of menstruation (mean: 32%) and increased during the following 2 weeks (36%) in women (P <0.05). No cyclic differences in bacterial presence were found among the men (P values varied between 0.14 and 0.98). Men presented with significantly higher bacterial counts for 40 of 74 species (P <0.001), including Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but not Porphyromonas gingivalis (P = 0.15) or Tannerella forsythia (previously T. forsythensis) (P = 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: During a menstruation period, cyclic variation in the subgingival microbiota of periodontally healthy women of child-bearing age who were not using oral hormonal contraceptives could not be confirmed. Male control subjects presented with higher levels of many species but also without a cyclic pattern.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > School of Dental Medicine > Department of Periodontology
UniBE Contributor:	Fischer, Carolin (B), Persson, Rigmor, Persson, Gösta Rutger
ISSN:	0022-3492
Publisher:	American Academy of Periodontology
Language:	English
Submitter:	Eveline Carmen Schuler
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:02
Last Modified:	29 Mar 2023 23:33
Publisher DOI:	10.1902/jop.2008.080057
PubMed ID:	18834253
Web of Science ID:	000260142100019
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/26805 (FactScience: 88775)