Navigating female periodontal health: A case based exploration

Hormones are critical biological regulators influencing the development and maintenance of the oral cavity, skeletal system, and periodontal structures. Sex steroid hormones, in particular, play significant roles beyond reproduction, impacting cardiovascular, neurological, and periodontal health. Their influence on the periodontium is well recognized in current disease classifications. Progesterone, for instance, modulates collagen synthesis, increases prostaglandins, and alters inflammatory responses, thereby affecting periodontal stability. Hormonal fluctuations across a woman's life-categorized as endogenous (e.g., puberty, pregnancy, menopause) or exogenous (e.g., contraceptives, hormone therapy)-can alter gingival responses to plaque. This study reviews a subset of clinical cases, highlighting how hormonal changes can elicit variable gingival inflammation across different life stages.