21/04/2026
Scientists linked a common bacteria to endometriosis.
And it paves the way for a new era of antibiotic-based treatments.
For years, endometriosis has remained one of the most enigmatic and painful conditions affecting women worldwide.
However, a groundbreaking study published in Science Translational Medicine suggests that a common bacterium, Fusobacterium, may be a primary culprit behind the disease's progression.
Researchers found this specific bacterium, often found in the mouth or gut, in the uterine lining of over 60% of women with endometriosis, compared to just 7% of healthy controls. The infection appears to trigger a protein called TGF-beta, which transforms normal cells into aggressive, lesion-promoting myofibroblasts.
This discovery offers a glimmer of hope for new therapeutic approaches beyond surgery and hormonal suppression. In animal models, researchers observed that treating the infection with antibiotics like metronidazole significantly reduced both the number and severity of endometriosis lesions. While further clinical trials are necessary to determine if these results translate directly to humans, the findings represent a major step toward understanding the microbial influences on reproductive health and could lead to more targeted, less invasive treatment options for those suffering from this chronic condition.
source: Muraoka, A., Suzuki, M., Hamaguchi, T., Watanabe, S., Iijima, K., Murofushi, Y., ... & Kondo, Y. Fusobacterium infection facilitates the development of endometriosis through the facilitation of macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition. Science Translational Medicine.