News | Periodontitis may affect more than teeth: study links oral inflammation to impaired ovarian function
Chronic oral diseases such as periodontitis have long been considered mainly a threat to oral health, but new research suggests effects far beyond the teeth and gums. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that chronic oral inflammation may trigger a systemic immune response that impairs ovarian function, reduces egg quality, and ultimately lowers live birth rates.
Published in the Journal of Dental Research, the study offers a possible new clue to unexplained infertility and suggests an underrecognized biological link between oral and female reproductive health.
The study was co-led by Professor Michael Klutstein of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Professor Asaf Wilensky of the Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical Center, with doctoral students Paz Kles and Stephen Ameho also leading the work.
Researchers used a mouse model to simulate chronic oral inflammation associated with dental implants, a relatively common long-term inflammatory condition, and tracked changes in inflammatory immune signals throughout the body.
Inflammation did not remain confined to the mouth. It triggered a systemic immune response that reached ovarian tissue.
Chronic oral inflammation increased inflammatory cytokines in the ovaries and altered immune-cell composition. This was accompanied by clear oxidative damage in ovarian tissue, impaired follicular development, and reduced oocyte quality.
These biological changes directly affected reproductive outcomes: mice with chronic inflammation had significantly lower live birth rates.
Researchers also observed deeper cellular changes. Oocytes affected by inflammation showed DNA damage and epigenetic alterations resembling those seen in reproductive aging.
The team said chronic inflammation may therefore accelerate ovarian aging and impair fertility.
“Inflammation is usually considered a local response, but our research shows that it can have systemic consequences and even affect the reproductive system,” Professor Klutstein said.
He said the study suggests chronic oral inflammation may be a long-overlooked contributor to female infertility, particularly in some cases currently classified as unexplained.
Growing evidence links oral health closely with overall health. Chronic oral inflammation such as periodontitis has been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes and may sustain low-grade chronic inflammation.
This study extends the potential association to female reproduction.
The researchers emphasized that the findings are based mainly on animal models and require further clinical studies to confirm their relevance in humans.
If confirmed, fertility care may need to consider oral health alongside hormone levels, ovarian reserve, and embryo quality as part of comprehensive reproductive management.
The findings may also open avenues for anti-inflammatory or antioxidant strategies to improve female reproductive outcomes.
As unexplained infertility becomes more common, cross-system research is changing traditional views of reproductive health. Gingival inflammation, periodontal health, and the oral microenvironment may eventually become important components of female fertility assessment.
News | Periodontitis may affect more than teeth: study links oral inflammation to impaired ovarian function
News | Periodontitis may affect more than teeth: study links oral inflammation to impaired ovarian function
Chronic oral diseases such as periodontitis have long been considered mainly a threat to oral health, but new research suggests effects far beyond the teeth and gums. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that chronic oral inflammation may trigger a systemic immune response that impairs ovarian function, reduces egg quality, and ultimately lowers live birth rates.
Published in the Journal of Dental Research, the study offers a possible new clue to unexplained infertility and suggests an underrecognized biological link between oral and female reproductive health.
The study was co-led by Professor Michael Klutstein of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Professor Asaf Wilensky of the Hebrew University–Hadassah Medical Center, with doctoral students Paz Kles and Stephen Ameho also leading the work.
Researchers used a mouse model to simulate chronic oral inflammation associated with dental implants, a relatively common long-term inflammatory condition, and tracked changes in inflammatory immune signals throughout the body.
Inflammation did not remain confined to the mouth. It triggered a systemic immune response that reached ovarian tissue.
Chronic oral inflammation increased inflammatory cytokines in the ovaries and altered immune-cell composition. This was accompanied by clear oxidative damage in ovarian tissue, impaired follicular development, and reduced oocyte quality.
These biological changes directly affected reproductive outcomes: mice with chronic inflammation had significantly lower live birth rates.
Researchers also observed deeper cellular changes. Oocytes affected by inflammation showed DNA damage and epigenetic alterations resembling those seen in reproductive aging.
The team said chronic inflammation may therefore accelerate ovarian aging and impair fertility.
“Inflammation is usually considered a local response, but our research shows that it can have systemic consequences and even affect the reproductive system,” Professor Klutstein said.
He said the study suggests chronic oral inflammation may be a long-overlooked contributor to female infertility, particularly in some cases currently classified as unexplained.
Growing evidence links oral health closely with overall health. Chronic oral inflammation such as periodontitis has been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes and may sustain low-grade chronic inflammation.
This study extends the potential association to female reproduction.
The researchers emphasized that the findings are based mainly on animal models and require further clinical studies to confirm their relevance in humans.
If confirmed, fertility care may need to consider oral health alongside hormone levels, ovarian reserve, and embryo quality as part of comprehensive reproductive management.
The findings may also open avenues for anti-inflammatory or antioxidant strategies to improve female reproductive outcomes.
As unexplained infertility becomes more common, cross-system research is changing traditional views of reproductive health. Gingival inflammation, periodontal health, and the oral microenvironment may eventually become important components of female fertility assessment.
Source:
Compiled from online sources