Smoking and endometriosis: A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Gynecology
• Molecular Biology
• Toxicology

Background:

• Endometriosis is a common gynecological disorder affecting women of reproductive age.
• Its etiology is multifactorial, with increasing evidence linking tobacco smoking to its development and progression.
• Potential mechanisms include inflammatory, oxidative, and hormonal disruptions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the relationship between tobacco smoking and endometriosis.
• To integrate molecular insights into potential biological pathways.
• To identify areas for future research.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review of original research articles from PubMed/MEDLINE and Web of Science.
• Inclusion of studies on human and animal models.
• Consideration of molecular mechanisms, including inflammatory, oxidative, hormonal, and epigenetic pathways.

Main Results:

• Tobacco smoke components like nicotine and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can trigger inflammation and oxidative stress.
• Smoking induces hormonal dysregulation and interferes with hormone signaling pathways.
• Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, are induced by smoking, affecting gene expression related to endometriosis pathogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Tobacco smoking is implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis through various molecular mechanisms.
• Future research should focus on longitudinal studies with biomarkers and omics approaches.
• Public health policies should include smoking prevention and cessation programs for at-risk women.