Oxidative Stress as a Potential Underlying Cause of Minimal and Mild Endometriosis-Related Infertility

Gabija Didžiokaitė, Gabija Didziokaite, Gabija Biliute, Gabija Biliūtė, Jogaile Gudaite, Violeta Kvedarienė, Violeta Kvedariene
International journal of molecular sciences · 2023 · vol. 24(4) , pp. 3809 · doi:10.3390/ijms24043809 · PMID:36835217 · W4320920629
review OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 46 in-corpus citations
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⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-08 ⓘ

This paper explores the connection between oxidative stress, endometriosis, and infertility, proposing that high oxidative stress may underlie minimal/mild endometriosis and contribute to its progression.

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Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in a variety of physiological and pathological processes of the female reproductive system. In recent years the relationship between OS and endometriosis has been of particular interest, and a theory has been suggested that OS may be a cause of endometriosis development. While the link between endometriosis and infertility is well established, minimal or mild stages of endometriosis are not considered to cause infertility. Increasing evidence of OS as a leading agent in the development of endometriosis has brought up a theory of minimal/mild endometriosis itself being one of the manifestations of high OS rather than a separate disease which directly causes infertility. Moreover, further development of the disease is thought to contribute to an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) thus leading to the progression of endometriosis itself as well as to other pathological processes in the female reproductive system. Therefore, in case of minimal or mild endometriosis, the less invasive treatment could be offered in order to stop the ongoing cycle of endometriosis-reinforced excess ROS production and to reduce their harmful effects. In this article the existing connection between OS, endometriosis, and infertility is explored.

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Condition tags

mesh:D004715endometriosisinfertility

MeSH descriptors

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

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (35)

Cited by (46)

Source provenance

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