Phytoestrogens: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Endometriosis Management, Insights from Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Neykhonji M, Marzieh Neykhonji, Abdulridha Mohammed Al-Asady, Al-Asady AM, Souad Al-Okla, Al Okla S, Souad Al Okla, Al-Nazwani N, Nasser Al-Nazwani, Amir Avan, Avan A, Khazaei M, Majid Khazaei, Seyed Mahdi Hassanian, Hassanian SM
Current pharmaceutical design · 2025 · vol. 31(42) , pp. 3400–3415 · doi:10.2174/0113816128364775250326161410 · PMID:40277065 · W4409814962
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⚙ AI-generated summary by gemini-2.5-flash-lite, 2026-06-07 ⓘ

Phytoestrogens exhibit anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic properties, showing therapeutic potential for endometriosis management across cellular, animal, and clinical studies.

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This paper is a narrative review examining preclinical and clinical studies on phytoestrogens as a potential therapeutic approach for endometriosis, using searches of Google Scholar and PubMed with keywords spanning endometriosis, estrogen, inflammation, pelvic pain, and infertility, and drawing on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence. The review reports that phytoestrogens, due to structural similarity to estrogen, can compete for estrogen receptor binding and act as anti-estrogenic or weak proestrogenic agents, alongside anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic effects. The authors’ main limitation is that it is based on an extensive literature evaluation without providing a systematic review framework or quantitative synthesis. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically, it reviews mechanisms and evidence for phytoestrogens in endometriosis management.

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological disorder characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The disease often involves internal organs and leads to chronic pelvic pain and infertility. While its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, the disease is considered estrogen-dependent, and reducing estrogen levels is a primary clinical treatment strategy. Despite extensive research and diverse treatment modalities, including surgery and pharmacotherapy, current treatments are associated with significant complications and recurrence. This review aims to explore recent studies on phytoestrogens' therapeutic potential in endometriosis treatment by examining the underlying mechanisms contributing to their efficacy. METHODS: An extensive evaluation of Google Scholar and PubMed, utilizing relevant keywords including "Endometriosis, Phytoestrogen, Estrogen, inflammation, pelvic pain, and Infertility" was carried out to assess the potential therapeutic efficacy of phytoestrogens in managing endometriosis, based on recent research findings. This review considered a wide range of studies, including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, as well as reviews and research articles, to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on this topic. RESULTS: Phytoestrogens, with their structural similarity to estrogen, have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach. These compounds compete for estrogen receptor binding, displaying anti-estrogenic or weak proestrogenic properties upon binding. CONCLUSION: Exhibiting anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic properties, phytoestrogens have demonstrated substantial therapeutic potential in endometriosis management. Extensive cellular, animal, and clinical investigations support their therapeutic efficacy.
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Abstract

Introduction: Endometriosis is a prevalent gynecological disorder characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. The disease often involves internal organs and leads to chronic pelvic pain and infertility. While its pathogenesis remains incompletely understood, the disease is considered estrogen-dependent, and reducing estrogen levels is a primary clinical treatment strategy. Despite extensive research and diverse treatment modalities, including surgery and pharmacotherapy, current treatments are associated with significant complications and recurrence. This review aims to explore recent studies on phytoestrogens' therapeutic potential in endometriosis treatment by examining the underlying mechanisms contributing to their efficacy.

Methods

An extensive evaluation of Google Scholar and PubMed, utilizing relevant keywords including "Endometriosis, Phytoestrogen, Estrogen, inflammation, pelvic pain, and Infertility" was carried out to assess the potential therapeutic efficacy of phytoestrogens in managing endometriosis, based on recent research findings. This review considered a wide range of studies, including in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, as well as reviews and research articles, to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on this topic.

Results

Phytoestrogens, with their structural similarity to estrogen, have emerged as a novel therapeutic approach. These compounds compete for estrogen receptor binding, displaying anti-estrogenic or weak proestrogenic properties upon binding.

Conclusion

Exhibiting anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic properties, phytoestrogens have demonstrated substantial therapeutic potential in endometriosis management. Extensive cellular, animal, and clinical investigations support their therapeutic efficacy.

Keywords

Endometriosis, estrogen, pelvic pain, infertility, inflammation, phytoestrogen. 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Condition tags

endometriosischronic_pelvic_paininfertility

MeSH descriptors

Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

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