TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL MEDICINE - Georgian Medical Journal

Abstract

Background:
Periodontal tissues are responsive to systemic hormonal changes due to the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors. Hormonal therapies used in reproductive medicine may influence periodontal health through inflammatory, microbial, and metabolic pathways.

Objective:
To review current evidence on the impact of hormonal therapies used in reproductive medicine on periodontal tissues and to assess their potential clinical implications.

Methods:
A structured narrative review was conducted based on selected literature, including systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and clinical studies published between 2020 and 2026. Databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Studies addressing hormonal exposure and periodontal outcomes were included and analyzed thematically.

Results:
Hormonal contraceptives were associated with increased clinical attachment loss, while estrogen deficiency contributed to enhanced bone resorption and progression of periodontal disease. Endocrine therapies, particularly aromatase inhibitors, were linked to more severe periodontal outcomes compared to selective estrogen receptor modulators. Assisted reproductive technologies were associated with transient increases in gingival inflammation during treatment cycles. In addition, associations were identified between periodontal disease and reproductive conditions, including female infertility and impaired sperm parameters. Hormonal modulation was also associated with changes in microbial composition and inflammatory cytokine expression.

Conclusion:
Hormonal therapies used in reproductive medicine are associated with measurable changes in periodontal tissues. These effects are mediated through complex interactions involving inflammatory pathways, microbiome alterations, and bone metabolism. Although current evidence supports an association, further research is required to clarify causality and clinical significance. 

Keywords

Periodontitis; Hormonal therapy; Reproductive medicine; Oral contraceptives; In vitro fertilization; Estrogen deficiency; Endocrine therapy; Cytokines; Microbiome