Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41752979›Full record

ReviewLife (Basel, Switzerland)2026

A Dive into the Invisible: The Vaginal and Endometrial Microbiota in Gynecologic and Obstetric Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Giorgia Schettini, Emilio Pieri, Cristina Rizzo, Matteo Giorgi, Virginia Mancini, Nassir Habib, Ramon Rovira, Gabriele Centini

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Life (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Giorgia SchettiniDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.ORCID 0009-0002-1493-9679
Emilio PieriDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Cristina RizzoDepartment of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Matteo GiorgiGynecological Unit, Department of Surgical Sciences, Valdarno Hospital, 52025 Montevarchi, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-7515-5782
Virginia ManciniInstitute of Pathology, Department of Medical Biotechnology, University Hospital of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-4775-3777
Nassir HabibDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yvette Clinique, 67 Route de Corbeil, 91160 Longjumeau, France.ORCID 0000-0003-3263-553X
Ramon RoviraDepartment of Gynecologic Oncology, Saint Creu and Saint Pau Hospital, 08025 Barcelona, Spain.ORCID 0000-0003-4136-4153
Gabriele CentiniDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alta Val D'Elsa Hospital, Azienda USL Toscana Sud-Est, Campostaggia, 53036 Poggibonsi, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-6113-7401

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The human microbiota is increasingly recognized as a key component of women's reproductive health. This narrative review examines the vaginal, endometrial, and gut microbiota and their roles in the pathogenesis of gynecologic and obstetric disorders, aiming to integrate current evidence into a clinically relevant framework. We review intrinsic (genetic, hormonal, and immunological) and extrinsic (environmental, lifestyle, and pharmacological) factors shaping microbial composition, with particular focus on dysbiosis and the role of the gut estrobolome within the microbiome in estrogen metabolism. The review synthesizes data on microbiota alterations associated with endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, endometrial polyps and hyperplasia, gynecologic malignancies, pelvic inflammatory disease, bacterial vaginosis, infertility, and adverse obstetric outcomes, including preterm birth and fetal growth restriction. Methodological approaches used to characterize the reproductive tract microbiota, such as vaginal swabs, endometrial sampling, and fecal analysis, are critically discussed, together with limitations related to low-biomass environments and contamination risk. Evidence regarding therapeutic modulation of the microbiota, including antibiotics, probiotics, hormonal therapies, and emerging microbiota-based interventions, is summarized, alongside the impact of gynecologic surgery on microbial translocation and long-term microbial balance. Overall, the available literature supports an association between microbiota alterations and multiple reproductive conditions, although causality remains incompletely established. Further standardized and longitudinal studies are needed to clarify mechanisms and guide microbiota-informed diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

dysbiosisendometrial microbiotaestrobolomegut–uterus axisgynecologic diseasesinfertilitymicrobiomeobstetric outcomesreproductive tract microbiotavaginal microbiota

Identifiers

PMID41752979
PMCPMC12942613

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.