Estrogen Status and Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) exhibit a marked female predominance, suggesting a potential role for estrogen in their pathophysiology. However, evidence linking estrogen status to TMD remains inconsistent.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the association between estrogen-related factors and TMD prevalence and clinical presentation in women.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched through September 2025. Observational studies evaluating hormonal contraceptive use, menopausal status, menstrual cycle variation, pregnancy, or estrogen receptor polymorphisms in women with TMD were included. Two reviewers independently performed study selection, data extraction, and risk-of-bias assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Due to substantial heterogeneity, a narrative synthesis was conducted.

RESULTS

Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, including six clinical studies involving 2735 participants and one mechanistic supportive study. Moderate-certainty evidence suggested associations between hormonal contraceptive use, menopausal/climacteric status, and increased TMD risk or symptom severity. Additional low-certainty evidence supported associations involving menstrual cycle variation, pregnancy, and estrogen receptor polymorphisms.

CONCLUSIONS

Current evidence suggests that hormonal factors may influence TMD risk and symptom presentation in women. However, heterogeneity in definitions of hormonal exposure and diagnostic criteria limits definitive conclusions. Further prospective studies using standardized diagnostic protocols and real-time biochemically validated hormonal assessments correlated with clinical symptoms are needed.