A new study in Israel has uncovered a striking biological link between chronic oral inflammation and female fertility, suggesting that conditions in the mouth may have far-reaching effects on reproductive health.
Published in the Journal of Dental Research, the study by a team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shows that persistent inflammation in the oral cavity can impair ovarian function, reduce egg quality, and ultimately lower fertility rates.
Researchers examined in a mouse model inflammation associated with dental implants, a common clinical scenario, and tracked how immune signals spread throughout the body. Their findings reveal that inflammation does not remain confined to the oral cavity but triggers a systemic immune response that reaches the ovaries.
The consequences were significant. Chronic oral inflammation in the animals was linked to increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in the ovaries, along with shifts in immune cell populations. This was accompanied by oxidative damage to ovarian tissue, impaired development of follicles, and reduced quality of oocytes.
These biological changes translated into measurable reproductive outcomes, with markedly reduced birth rates observed under inflammatory conditions in the animals.
The study also identified deeper cellular effects. Oocytes exhibited DNA damage and epigenetic alterations resembling those seen in reproductive ageing, pointing to a possible mechanism by which inflammation accelerates the decline in fertility.
“Inflammation is often thought of as a localised response, but our findings show that it can have systemic consequences that extend as far as the reproductive system,” study lead Professor Michael Klutstein said.
“This work suggests that chronic oral inflammation may be an under-recognised factor in female infertility, potentially contributing to cases that currently have no clear explanation.”
