Stool-based gut microbiome patterns associated with diagnosed endometriosis: a rapid review protocol

This registration outlines a rapid review of stool-based gut microbiome findings in people with diagnosed endometriosis compared with eligible controls. The review will examine taxonomic composition, alpha and beta diversity, and other community-level measures. Functional findings, such as metabolites, enzyme activity and metabolic pathways, will be included when reported alongside an eligible microbiome outcome. The review will also consider differences in diagnostic and comparator ascertainment, stool handling, sequencing, bioinformatics and statistical methods. Searches will be conducted in Ovid Embase and Ovid MEDLINE, with citation searching and a focused ClinicalTrials.gov search. Findings will be summarised in evidence tables and a narrative synthesis, with meta-analysis considered only where studies are sufficiently comparable. The review aims to identify consistent findings, sources of methodological variation and priorities for future research, rather than establish causality or validate a diagnostic or treatment approach.