Microbiota and adenomyosis: exploring mechanisms and therapeutic potential

OBJECTIVE: This review comprehensively explores the potential relationship between the microbiota and adenomyosis, aiming to identify specific microbial biomarkers, elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of the microbiota in the disease, and provide insights into more precise and personalized therapeutic strategies for patients with adenomyosis. METHODS: This article adopts the narrative review method to comprehensively analyze the literature on the relationship between the microbiota and adenomyosis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases. A total of 8 articles were included, among which one was an animal experiment. This review focuses on analyzing the differences in the composition of the microbiota between patients with adenomyosis and healthy control groups, as well as the potential molecular mechanisms by which the microbiota participates in the development of adenomyosis. RESULTS: Studies have demonstrated that the composition of the microbiota in women with adenomyosis differs significantly from that in healthy controls.The potential mechanisms by which microbiota may be involved in adenomyosis are closely associated with immune-inflammatory responses and estrogen regulation, which further affect the progression of adenomyosis. CONCLUSIONS: Microbiota may play an important role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Elucidating the specific microbial biomarkers and the underlying molecular mechanisms of microbiota in adenomyosis is crucial for developing novel, precise, and personalized therapeutic strategies, which may provide new options for the treatment of adenomyosis.