Does the Relationship between Endometriosis and Periodontal Disease Really Exist? A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Endometriosis and periodontitis are chronic and inflammatory diseases. Studies, assumptions and opinions try to shed light on this possible relationship. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the association between endometriosis and periodontal disease. Methods: The following databases: Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Goolge Scholar, the descriptors used were: Endometriosis and Periodontal Disease in English, during the period from 1995 to 2023. 10 abstracts were found that had submitted the entire article for inclusion analysis. The eligibility criteria were: clinical trials, observational studies, and specific studies of endometriosis with periodontal diagnosis. Case reports, laboratory studies, and studies without periodontal disease in participants were excluded. Abstracts were evaluated by two investigators. Results: After accepting the eligibility criteria, two studies were included in this review, a cross-sectional study and a case-control study. The included studies do not allow for comparison, have different periodontal diagnostic criteria, and focus more on the biological plausibility of the increase in circulating cytokines in the body than on the observed outcomes. Conclusion: Nowadays there is no association between endometriosis and periodontal diseases, the studies only indicate a biological plausibility, clinical studies with adequate methodological design are necessary to prove such an association.