The impact of endometriosis on female reproductive health and quality of life (Literature review)

In: Reproductive health of woman · 2026 · pp. 90–94 · doi:10.30841/2708-8731.5.2026.370891 · W7214585968
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This literature review examines endometriosis pathogenesis, emphasizing multifactorial mechanisms and microbiota roles, while analyzing current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to address the disorder's impact on female reproductive health and quality of life.

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This literature review examines the multifactorial pathogenesis of endometriosis, highlighting interactions among hormonal, immunological, genetic, and microbiological factors that drive chronic inflammation and estrogen-dependent microenvironments. The authors synthesize current evidence on clinical manifestations, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic approaches, emphasizing the significant role of gut and reproductive tract microbiota in disease progression and potential treatment targets. The paper outlines management options including hormonal therapy, surgery, and assisted reproductive technologies while advocating for early diagnosis and personalized care plans tailored to individual patient needs. This paper is centrally about endometriosis — specifically its impact on female reproductive health, quality of life, and emerging microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.

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Abstract

Endometriosis is one of the most common chronic gynecological disorders affecting approximately 10–15% of women of reproductive age and exerting a significant negative impact on reproductive health, fertility, physical and psycho-emotional well-being in patients, as well as their quality of life. The disease is characterized by the presence of endometrium-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, which is accompanied by chronic inflammation, pain syndrome of varying intensity, disorders of the menstrual cycle, and infertility.The article summarizes current scientific data regarding the mechanisms of pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment methods for endometriosis. The etiology of the disease is shown to be multifactorial and involves the interaction of hormonal, immunological, genetic, epigenetic, and microbiological factors. Important pathogenetic links include the formation of a local estrogen-dependent microenvironment, the development of progesterone resistance, and dysregulation of cellular immunity accompanied by increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and angiogenic factors.Particular attention is paid to the role of the gut and reproductive tract microbiota in the formation of the immune response, regulation of estrogen metabolism, maintenance of chronic inflammation, and promotion of the progression of endometriotic lesions. Current therapeutic strategies, including hormonal treatment, surgical methods, combined approaches, and the use of assisted reproductive technologies in women with impaired fertility, are analyzed. Promising therapeutic directions aimed to correct microbiota imbalance as a potential pathogenetic target are presented. The importance of early diagnosis, a multidisciplinary approach, and individualized treatment taking into account the clinical features of the disease and patients’ reproductive plans is emphasized.
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Вплив ендометріозу на репродуктивне здоров’я та якість життя жінок (Огляд літератури) Основний зміст сторінки статті Анотація Ендометріоз є одним із найпоширеніших хронічних гінекологічних захворювань, що уражує близько 10–15% жінок репродуктивного віку та чинить суттєвий негативний вплив на репродуктивне здоров’я, фертильність, фізичний і психоемоційний стан пацієнток, а також на якість їхнього життя. Захворювання характеризується наявністю ендометріоподібної тканини поза межами порожнини матки, що супроводжується хронічним запальним процесом, больовим синдромом різної інтенсивності, порушеннями менструального циклу та розвитком безпліддя. У статті узагальнено сучасні наукові дані щодо механізмів патогенезу, клінічних проявів, діагностичних підходів і методів лікування ендометріозу. Показано, що етіологія захворювання має мультифакторний характер і включає взаємодію гормональних, імунологічних, генетичних, епігенетичних і мікробіологічних чинників. Важливими ланками патогенезу є формування локального естрогензалежного мікрооточення, розвиток прогестеронової резистентності та дисрегуляція клітинного імунітету, що супроводжується підвищенням рівнів прозапальних цитокінів і факторів ангіогенезу. Особливу увагу приділено ролі мікробіоти кишечника та репродуктивного тракту у формуванні імунної відповіді, регуляції метаболізму естрогенів, підтриманні хронічного запалення та прогресуванні ендометріоїдних вогнищ. Проаналізовано сучасні терапевтичні стратегії, що охоплюють гормональне лікування, хірургічні методи, комбіновані підходи та застосування допоміжних репродуктивних технологій у жінок із порушеннями фертильності. Розглянуто перспективні напрями терапії, спрямовані на корекцію мікробіотного дисбалансу як потенційної патогенетичної мішені. Наголошено на важливості ранньої діагностики, міждисциплінарного підходу та індивідуалізації лікування з урахуванням клінічних особливостей захворювання та репродуктивних планів пацієнток. Блок інформації про статтю Ця робота ліцензується відповідно до Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Автори зберігають авторське право, а також надають журналу право першого опублікування оригінальних наукових статей на умовах ліцензії Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, що дозволяє іншим розповсюджувати роботу з визнанням авторства твору та першої публікації в цьому журналі. Посилання Becker CM, Bokor A, Heikinheimo O, Horne A, Jansen F, Kiesel L, et al. ESHRE guideline: endometriosis. Hum Reprod Open. 2022;2022(2):hoac009. doi: 10.1093/hropen/hoac009. Zondervan KT, Becker CM, Koga K, Missmer SA, Taylor RN, Viganò P. Endometriosis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2018;4(1):9. doi: 10.1038/s41572-018-0008-5. Zondervan KT, Becker CM, Missmer SA. Endometriosis. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1244-56. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1810764. Shafrir AL, Farland LV, Shah DK, Harris HR, Kvaskoff M, Zondervan K, et al. 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