Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum

Abstract Background No consensus has yet been reached concerning whether there were significant differences in the vaginal microbiota according to maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) status. This study aimed to compare the vaginal microbiota of women with GDM and normal blood glucose before...

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Main Authors: Ying Liao, Ting Liu, Xinfang Zeng, Bin Xiao, Meiqun Xiao, Yuanfang Zhu, Qiying Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-03-01
Series:BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07411-8
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author Ying Liao
Ting Liu
Xinfang Zeng
Bin Xiao
Meiqun Xiao
Yuanfang Zhu
Qiying Song
author_facet Ying Liao
Ting Liu
Xinfang Zeng
Bin Xiao
Meiqun Xiao
Yuanfang Zhu
Qiying Song
author_sort Ying Liao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background No consensus has yet been reached concerning whether there were significant differences in the vaginal microbiota according to maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) status. This study aimed to compare the vaginal microbiota of women with GDM and normal blood glucose before and after delivery and to prospectively evaluate the influence of GDM on the dynamic changes of vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum. Methods This study included 20 GDM patients and 31 average pregnant women who gave birth at the Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Vaginal secretions samples were collected one week before delivery (D0), on the first day of delivery (D1), and 42 days after delivery (D42). Vaginal microbiota was detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results There was no significant difference in alpha and beta diversity between the GDM and non-GDM groups at each time point (all p > 0.05). However, the overall change patterns in Shannon and Pielou’s evenness index from D0 to D1 to D42 significantly differed between the GDM and non-GDM groups (p = 0.046 and p = 0.032, respectively). The abundance of Lactobacillus decreased obviously after delivery, especially in the GDM group, showing a more severe imbalance of the vaginal microbiota. Conclusions We found that GDM affected the succession of vaginal microbiota in the perinatal period. Our findings provided additional evidence for regulating the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy and postpartum to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and achieve long-term vaginal health outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-fdc4d1cc516a47e7b8e9685149da81682025-08-20T03:01:41ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932025-03-0125111210.1186/s12884-025-07411-8Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartumYing Liao0Ting Liu1Xinfang Zeng2Bin Xiao3Meiqun Xiao4Yuanfang Zhu5Qiying Song6Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalMaternal-Fetal Medicine Institute, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalDepartment of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalDepartment of Child Healthcare, Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s HospitalAbstract Background No consensus has yet been reached concerning whether there were significant differences in the vaginal microbiota according to maternal gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) status. This study aimed to compare the vaginal microbiota of women with GDM and normal blood glucose before and after delivery and to prospectively evaluate the influence of GDM on the dynamic changes of vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum. Methods This study included 20 GDM patients and 31 average pregnant women who gave birth at the Shenzhen Baoan Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Vaginal secretions samples were collected one week before delivery (D0), on the first day of delivery (D1), and 42 days after delivery (D42). Vaginal microbiota was detected using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results There was no significant difference in alpha and beta diversity between the GDM and non-GDM groups at each time point (all p > 0.05). However, the overall change patterns in Shannon and Pielou’s evenness index from D0 to D1 to D42 significantly differed between the GDM and non-GDM groups (p = 0.046 and p = 0.032, respectively). The abundance of Lactobacillus decreased obviously after delivery, especially in the GDM group, showing a more severe imbalance of the vaginal microbiota. Conclusions We found that GDM affected the succession of vaginal microbiota in the perinatal period. Our findings provided additional evidence for regulating the vaginal microbiota during pregnancy and postpartum to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and achieve long-term vaginal health outcomes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07411-8Gestational diabetesVaginal microbiotaBacterial vaginosisGene sequencingAntenatal periodPostpartum period
spellingShingle Ying Liao
Ting Liu
Xinfang Zeng
Bin Xiao
Meiqun Xiao
Yuanfang Zhu
Qiying Song
Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Gestational diabetes
Vaginal microbiota
Bacterial vaginosis
Gene sequencing
Antenatal period
Postpartum period
title Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
title_full Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
title_fullStr Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
title_full_unstemmed Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
title_short Influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
title_sort influences of gestational diabetes mellitus on the changes in the vaginal microbiota from antepartum to postpartum
topic Gestational diabetes
Vaginal microbiota
Bacterial vaginosis
Gene sequencing
Antenatal period
Postpartum period
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-025-07411-8
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