INTERACTIONS BETWEEN THE ORAL MICROBIOME AND THE UROGENITAL TRACT: IMPLICATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC HEALTH AND INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

Emil Ceban, Kamel Earar, Dorin Ioan Cocoș, Alina-Ramona Dimofte, Sonia-Teodora Statescu-Manaila, Iulia Chiscop, Viorel Jinga

DOI : 10.62610/RJOR.2025.2.17.72

Abstract

The human microbiome plays a fundamental role in maintaining systemic health, with growing recognition of cross-communication between distant microbial ecosystems. This review explores the bidirectional relationship between the oral microbiome and the urogenital tract, emphasizing how dysbiosis in the oral cavity, particularly in the context of periodontal disease, may influence urogenital health through systemic inflammation, microbial dissemination, and immune modulation. We examine the composition and functions of both the oral and urogenital microbiomes, as well as their susceptibility to internal and external perturbations such as antibiotic therapy, hormonal shifts, and lifestyle factors. Multiple biological mechanisms, including hematogenous spread, cytokine-mediated inflammation, and microbial signaling through the gut-bladder axis, are discussed as possible routes of interaction. Clinical and epidemiological evidence supports associations between poor oral health and increased risk of lower urinary tract symptoms, prostatitis, and recurrent urinary tract infections. Therapeutic implications include the integration of oral care in urological management, microbiome-targeted therapies such as probiotics, and a multidisciplinary approach to chronic inflammatory conditions. Future research should focus on causal validation and the development of personalized interventions addressing microbial interconnectivity across systems.