Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (694 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Inflammation of the endometrium, usually caused by intrauterine infections. Endometritis is the most common cause of postpartum fever.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Endomyometritis.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease; Uterine Diseases
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 4,953 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Endometritis” (counts retrieved 2026-11-04). 978 of them (19.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 2,534 records.
Reviews account for 462 records (9.3%) and meta-analyses for 91. Randomized controlled trials number 288 (5.8%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 2,534 |
| 2000-2009 | 542 |
| 2010-2019 | 899 |
| 2020 onward | 978 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 462 | 9.3% |
| Meta-analyses | 91 | 1.8% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 288 | 5.8% |
Method: PubMed query "Endometritis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-11-04.
Reading the evidence in kidney, urology and women's health
Kidney, urinary and reproductive health research uses lab markers (such as creatinine), imaging, symptom scores and registry data on pregnancy and birth. Findings about pregnancy are especially sensitive to who was studied and when in pregnancy exposure occurred. Nothing on this page is advice about treatment, fertility or pregnancy; speak to a qualified clinician. Check the population, the outcome measured and whether the study accounted for other health differences between groups.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recurrent Implantation Failure-update overview on etiology, diagnosis, treatment and future directions | 2018 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 407 | cc by PMID 30518389 · DOI · PMC6282265 |
| Translocation of vaginal microbiota is involved in impairment and protection of uterine health | 2021 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 125 | cc by PMID 34234149 · DOI · PMC8263591 |
| Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis in Mares - a Multifaceted Challenge: From Clinical Aspects to Immunopathogenesis and Pathobiology | 2020 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 113 | cc by PMID 32093296 · DOI · PMC7073041 |
| The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic endometritis: a comprehensive review | 2025 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 16 | cc by PMID 40575265 · DOI · PMC12197937 |
Recurrent Implantation Failure-update overview on etiology, diagnosis, treatment and future directions [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to cases in which women have had three failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts with good quality embryos.
- Closing excerpt
- In addition, we suggest considering a new initial step in approach to patients with RIF, individualized planned activities to activate the brain's reward system in attempt to improve immunological balance in the body.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (217 words)
Recurrent implantation failure (RIF) refers to cases in which women have had three failed in vitro fertilization (IVF) attempts with good quality embryos. The definition should also take advanced maternal age and embryo stage into consideration. The failure of embryo implantation can be a consequence of uterine, male, or embryo factors, or the specific type of IVF protocol. These cases should be investigated to determine the most likely etiologies of the condition, as this is a complex problem with several variables. There are multiple risk factors for recurrent implantation failure including advanced maternal age, smoking status of both parents, elevated body mass index, and stress levels. Immunological factors such as cytokine levels and presence of specific autoantibodies should be examined, as well as any infectious organisms in the uterus leading to chronic endometritis. Uterine pathologies such as polyps and myomas as well as congenital anatomical anomalies should be ruled out. Sperm analysis, pre-implantation genetic screening and endometrial receptivity should be considered and evaluated, and IVF protocols should be tailored to specific patients or patient populations. Treatment approaches should be directed toward individual patient cases. In addition, we suggest considering a new initial step in approach to patients with RIF, individualized planned activities to activate the brain's reward system in attempt to improve immunological balance in the body.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 30518389 · DOI · PMC6282265
Translocation of vaginal microbiota is involved in impairment and protection of uterine health [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The vaginal and uterine microbiota play important roles in the health of the female reproductive system.
- Closing excerpt
- This study clarifies the interdependent relationship of vaginal bacterial translocation with uterine microecology and endometrial health, which will undoubtedly increase our understanding of female reproductive health.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (149 words)
The vaginal and uterine microbiota play important roles in the health of the female reproductive system. However, the interactions among the microbes in these two niches and their effects on uterine health remain unclear. Here we profile the vaginal and uterine microbial samples of 145 women, and combine with deep mining of public data and animal experiments to characterize the microbial translocation in the female reproductive tract and its role in modulating uterine health. Synchronous variation and increasing convergence of the uterine and vaginal microbiome with advancing age are shown. We also find that transplanting certain strains of vaginal bacteria into the vagina of rats induces or reduces endometritis-like symptoms, and verify the damaging or protective effects of certain vaginal bacteria on endometrium. This study clarifies the interdependent relationship of vaginal bacterial translocation with uterine microecology and endometrial health, which will undoubtedly increase our understanding of female reproductive health.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34234149 · DOI · PMC8263591
Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis in Mares - a Multifaceted Challenge: From Clinical Aspects to Immunopathogenesis and Pathobiology [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Post-breeding endometritis (i.
- Closing excerpt
- Novel biological products capable of modulating the endometrial inflammatory response are also discussed here as part of the non-traditional therapies for endometritis.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (202 words)
Post-breeding endometritis (i.e., inflammation/infection of the endometrium), is a physiological reaction taking place in the endometrium of mares within 48 hours post-breeding, aimed to clear seminal plasma, excess sperm, microorganisms, and debris from the uterine lumen in preparation for the arrival of an embryo. Mares are classified as susceptible or resistant to persistent breeding-induced endometritis (PBIE) based on their ability to clear this inflammation/infection by 48 hours post-breeding. Mares susceptible to PBIE, or those with difficulty clearing infection/inflammation, have a deficient immune response and compromised physical mechanisms of defense against infection. Molecular pathways of the innate immune response known to be involved in PBIE are discussed herein. The role of the adaptive uterine immune response on PBIE remains to be elucidated in horses. Advances in the pathobiology of microbes involved in PBIE are also revised here. Traditional and non-traditional therapeutic modalities for endometritis are contrasted and described in the context of clinical and molecular aspects. In recent years, the lack of efficacy of traditional therapeutic modalities, alongside the ever-increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms, has enforced the development of non-traditional therapies. Novel biological products capable of modulating the endometrial inflammatory response are also discussed here as part of the non-traditional therapies for endometritis.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 32093296 · DOI · PMC7073041
The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic endometritis: a comprehensive review [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Chronic endometritis (CE) is a subtle but persistent inflammatory disorder of the endometrium that is often underdiagnosed due to its asymptomatic or non-specific presentation.
- Closing excerpt
- This review summarizes current understanding of the diagnostic criteria, pathogenic mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies for CE, emphasizing its crucial role in infertility and the need for standardized clinical management.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (126 words)
Chronic endometritis (CE) is a subtle but persistent inflammatory disorder of the endometrium that is often underdiagnosed due to its asymptomatic or non-specific presentation. The etiology of CE primarily involves microbial infections and immune dysregulation, often accompanied by microbial dysbiosis. Diagnosis relies on histopathological examination, especially the identification of stromal plasma cells, alongside hysteroscopic findings and microbiological testing, though standardization remains lacking. Mechanistically, CE-induced infertility stems from altered immune cell profiles, impaired endometrial receptivity, aberrant decidualization, dysbiosis of the endometrial microbiota, and abnormal uterine peristalsis. Aberrant gene expression and hormone receptor dysregulation further disrupt the implantation window. This review summarizes current understanding of the diagnostic criteria, pathogenic mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies for CE, emphasizing its crucial role in infertility and the need for standardized clinical management.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40575265 · DOI · PMC12197937
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Bacterial vaginosis and its association with infertility, endometritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease [5]
- Research article Endometritis: new time, new concepts [6]
- Research article Review: Chronic endometritis and its effect on reproduction [7]
- Research article Clinical and subclinical endometritis in the mare: both threats to fertility [8]
- Research article Mechanisms of infertility associated with clinical and subclinical endometritis in high producing dairy cattle [9]
- Research article Can endometrial infection/inflammation explain implantation failure, spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth after in vitro fertilization? [10]
References
- Bashiri A, Halper KI, Orvieto R. Recurrent Implantation Failure-update overview on etiology, diagnosis, treatment and future directions. . 2018. PMID 30518389 · DOI · PMC6282265
- Wang J, Li Z, Ma X, Du L, Jia Z, Cui X, et al.. Translocation of vaginal microbiota is involved in impairment and protection of uterine health. . 2021. PMID 34234149 · DOI · PMC8263591
- Canisso IF, Segabinazzi LGTM, Fedorka CE. Persistent Breeding-Induced Endometritis in Mares - a Multifaceted Challenge: From Clinical Aspects to Immunopathogenesis and Pathobiology. . 2020. PMID 32093296 · DOI · PMC7073041
- Yan X, Jiao J, Wang X. The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic endometritis: a comprehensive review. . 2025. PMID 40575265 · DOI · PMC12197937
- Ravel J, Moreno I, Simón C. Bacterial vaginosis and its association with infertility, endometritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021. PMID 33091407 · DOI
- Kitaya K, Takeuchi T, Mizuta S, Matsubayashi H, Ishikawa T. Endometritis: new time, new concepts. Fertil Steril. 2018. PMID 29960704 · DOI
- Kimura F, Takebayashi A, Ishida M, Nakamura A, Kitazawa J, Morimune A, et al.. Review: Chronic endometritis and its effect on reproduction. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2019. PMID 30843321 · DOI
- LeBlanc MM, Causey RC. Clinical and subclinical endometritis in the mare: both threats to fertility. Reprod Domest Anim. 2009. PMID 19660076 · DOI
- Sheldon IM, Price SB, Cronin J, Gilbert RO, Gadsby JE. Mechanisms of infertility associated with clinical and subclinical endometritis in high producing dairy cattle. Reprod Domest Anim. 2009. PMID 19660075 · DOI
- Romero R, Espinoza J, Mazor M. Can endometrial infection/inflammation explain implantation failure, spontaneous abortion, and preterm birth after in vitro fertilization?. Fertil Steril. 2004. PMID 15482749 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-11-04; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-11-04.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.