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©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Sep 22, 2025; 16(3): 107823
Published online Sep 22, 2025. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v16.i3.107823
Published online Sep 22, 2025. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v16.i3.107823
Discovering a new paradigm: Gut microbiota as a central modulator of sexual health
Giuseppe Marano, Department of Neurosciences, Unit of Psychiatry, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, Rome 00168, Italy
Maria B Anesini, Miriam Milintenda, Mariateresa Acanfora, Francesco M Lisci, Department of Psychiatry, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
Claudia d’Abate, Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena 53100, Tuscany, Italy
Ilaria Pirona, Istituto di Patologia Speciale Medica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Lazio, Italy
Gianandrea Traversi, Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fatebe
Roberto Pola, Division of Internal Medicine, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
Eleonora Gaetani, Medical and Surgical Sciences, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
Marianna Mazza, Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome 00168, Italy
Author contributions: Marano G, Gaetani E, and Mazza M contributed to the conceptualization, supervision and management of the manuscript; Marano G and Mazza M performed the methodology; Anesini MB, Militenda M, Acanfora M, d’Abate C, Lisci FM, Pirona I, Traversi G, and Pola R provided resources and performed data curation; Marano G and Mazza M wrote the original manuscript, reviewed it and edited it; all authors reviewed and discussed the results and contributed to the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Marianna Mazza, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo A Gemelli 8, Rome 00168, Italy. mariannamazza@hotmail.com
Received: March 31, 2025
Revised: April 22, 2025
Accepted: June 18, 2025
Published online: September 22, 2025
Processing time: 174 Days and 17.4 Hours
Revised: April 22, 2025
Accepted: June 18, 2025
Published online: September 22, 2025
Processing time: 174 Days and 17.4 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: The gut microbiota is crucial for sexual health, influencing hormonal balance, immune function, and the gut-brain axis. A balanced microbiota supports optimal levels of estrogen and testosterone, while dysbiosis contributes to erectile dysfunction, polycystic ovary syndrome and decreased libido. Microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, influence neurotransmitters and mood, affecting sexual desire and function. Therapeutic approaches, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, show promise in restoring gut balance and improving sexual health. Recognizing this interplay offers new strategies for managing sexual dysfunction and enhancing overall well-being.