Endometriosis and TMD: The Comorbidity Ignored - A Scoping Review

Endometriosis and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) represent significant clinical challenges, affecting millions of women worldwide with chronic pain and substantial quality of life impairment. Historically treated as isolated conditions within their respective specialties, emerging evidence reveals a striking non-random correlation. This scoping review conducted following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, systematically mapped literature across five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, LILACS) from January 2000 to September 2025. From 632 screened records, 11 studies met inclusion criteria, revealing that TMD prevalence in women with endometriosis reaches 77.3%, dramatically higher than the 5-12% observed in the general population. This six- to fifteen-fold increase establishes endometriosis and TMD as interconnected manifestations of systemic dysfunction involving hormonal dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and central sensitization. The evidence synthesized supports a paradigm shift from fragmented, specialty-specific care to integrated multidisciplinary management. By identifying shared pathophysiological pathways and incorporating novel screening tools for psychosocial factors, this review lays the groundwork for a new standard of care that recognizes the systemic nature of these conditions and promotes early diagnosis, more effective treatment strategies, and a holistic approach to women's chronic pain management. Keywords: Endometriosis; Temporomandibular Disorders; Comorbidity; Central Sensitization; Chronic Pain.