Placental microbiome

[1] Until recently, the healthy placenta was considered to be a sterile organ but now genera and species have been identified that reside in the basal layer.

[1] Culturable and non-culturable bacterial species in the placenta obtained following normal term pregnancy have been identified.

[1] A change in the composition of the microbiota in the placenta is associated with excess gestational weight gain, and pre-term birth.

Future research may find that the microbiota of the female reproductive tract may be related to pregnancy, conception, and birth.

A 1927 study demonstrated the presence of bacteria in the amniotic fluid of those that were in labor for longer than six hours.