Gut feeling: understanding the endometriosis-digestive link to enhance patient care and symptom control

Liron Bar-El, Ido Veisman, Madison Simons, Courtney Delpra, Cara R King, Ashley Gubbels
Current opinion in obstetrics & gynecology · 2025 · vol. 37(4) , pp. 285–293 · doi:10.1097/gco.0000000000001041 · PMID:40459422 · W4410976231
review OA: closed CC0 ⤵ 1 in-corpus citation
View on OpenAlex View on PubMed View at publisher
⚙ AI-generated summary by claude@2026-06, 2026-06-06 ⓘ

This review explores the intricate relationship between endometriosis and gut health, including microbiota, hormonal, and immune factors, to improve diagnosis and symptom control for patients.

One-sentence paraphrase of the abstract; not a substitute for reading it. No clinical advice. How this works

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that frequently presents with gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms that overlap with disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and gastroparesis, leading to diagnostic delays. Recent research highlights the intricate relationship between endometriosis and gut health, including the role of microbiota, hormonal influences, and immune dysregulation. This review explored these mechanisms and their clinical implications for enhancing diagnosis and management strategies. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies have suggested that hormonal fluctuations, prostaglandin dysregulation, and gut microbiota alterations contribute to GI symptoms in endometriosis. The microbiota-gut-brain axis has been implicated in disease progression, with dysbiosis influencing systemic inflammation and estrogen metabolism. Additionally, endometriotic lesions directly infiltrating the bowel can mimic GI disorders. Multidisciplinary care models, including gastroenterologists and gynecologists, are increasingly being recognized as essential for accurate diagnosis and care. Emerging therapies such as microbiome-targeted interventions, dietary modifications, and novel biomarkers offer promising avenues for improving patient outcomes. SUMMARY: Recognizing the gut-endometriosis connection is crucial for reducing diagnostic delays and optimizing treatment strategies. Future research should focus on refining noninvasive diagnostic tools, exploring microbiome-based therapies, and enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient care.

My notes (saved in your browser only)

Condition tags

endometriosisirritable_bowel_syndrome

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 (83)

Cited by (1)

Source provenance

europepmc
last seen: 2026-06-11T06:19:48.454388+00:00
openalex
last seen: 2026-06-10T17:14:06.276822+00:00
pubmed
last seen: 2026-06-02T00:31:31.583709+00:00
License: CC0 · commercial use OK