Phd in ENDOCRINOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Research: Role of Endocrine-Specific miRNAs as Functional and Therapeutic Biomarkers in Endometriosis-Associated Infertility: A Longitudinal Translational Study

EDUCATION AND TRAINING - MD Degree in Medicine and Surgery (110/110 with honors) at Sapienza University of Rome on July 22, 2019. Thesis title: “Dienogest vs Continuous Levonorgestrel/EE: Comparative Study on Efficacy and Side Effects in Patients with Endometriosis” - Specialization in Obstetrics and Gynecology (70/70 with honors) at Sapienza University of Rome on January 21, 2026. Thesis title: “Central Sensitization in Women with Endometriosis: A Prospective Cohort Study.” - Currently enrolled in the PhD in Endocrinological Sciences (41st Cycle) at the Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. - Currently enrolled in the Four-Year Clinical Sexology Training Program at the Istituto di Sessuologia Clinica, Rome. WORK EXPERIENCE Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at S. Rosa Hospital, Viterbo, where she performs clinical and patient care activities in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. SKILLS Throughout her residency, she developed a strong scientific and clinical interest in endometriosis, systematically investigating its pathophysiology, diagnosis, and therapeutic management. Her academic and clinical activity has particularly focused on the impact of pain on patients’ quality of life, with special attention to the mechanisms underlying chronic pelvic pain development and strategies aimed at preventing pain chronicization. In this field, she gained expertise in the multidimensional assessment of pain, the identification of comorbid conditions associated with chronic female pain syndromes (including irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, vulvodynia, and interstitial cystitis), and the clinical evaluation of patients with a suspected central sensitization component. Particular attention has been devoted to the early diagnosis of endometriosis, with a focus on recognizing warning signs and symptoms in adolescents and young women, aiming to reduce diagnostic delay and prevent the progression toward complex chronic pain conditions. In parallel, she undertook formal training in clinical sexology, attending a specialized postgraduate program to deepen her understanding of the psychological, relational, and functional aspects of female sexual health, including sexual dysfunctions related to gynecological diseases and chronic pelvic pain. In recent years, her training has also expanded toward reproductive medicine and infertility, through continuous clinical attendance at the Medically Assisted Reproduction (ART) Unit of Policlinico Umberto I, Rome. In this setting, she gained experience in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of infertile couples, participating in patient evaluation and in several stages of ART programs, with particular attention to personalized ovarian stimulation protocols, ultrasound monitoring, and clinical management throughout the reproductive treatment pathway. This experience contributed to the development of competencies in the multidisciplinary management of infertility and comprehensive reproductive health care for women and couples. RESEARCH PROJECT Role of Endocrine-Specific miRNAs as Functional and Therapeutic Biomarkers in Endometriosis-Associated Infertility: A Longitudinal Translational Study CLINICAL TRIALS - Dienogest versus continuous levonorgestrel/EE in patients with endometriosis: prospective cohort study - Effect of breastfeeding on endometriosis-related pain: prospective cohort study - Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2: retrospective study - Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine on endometriosis-related pain, ovarian endometrioma size, and reproductive outcomes: prospective cohort study - Endometriosis in adolescents: clinical characteristics and atypical symptoms: prospective cohort study - Characterization of the vaginal microbiota in women with endometriosis: prospective cohort study - Role of pain catastrophizing in women with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain: moderated mediation model study - Transvaginal elastosonography as a predictor of deep endometriosis in women with dyspareunia: prospective cohort study - Kisspeptin and KissR1 in infertile women with endometriosis: prospective cohort study - Intestinal endometriosis: retrospective study on the effects of hormonal therapy - Clinical characteristics and quality of life in menopausal women with a history of endometriosis: prospective cohort study - Multicenter prospective cohort study on the natural history of ovarian endometriomas in women not receiving hormonal therapy - Multicenter retrospective study on the laterality of endometriotic lesions - Efficacy of physiotherapy rehabilitation in women with endometriosis, superficial dyspareunia, and pelvic floor hypertonia: prospective cohort study - Central sensitization in women with endometriosis: prospective cohort study PUBLICATIONS AND ABSTRACTS 1. Viscardi MF, Spinoni M, Cacciamani L, Muzii L, Grano C, Porpora MG. P-328 The role of catastrophizing in women with endometriosis-related chronic pelvic pain: a moderated mediation model, Human Reproduction, Volume 40, Issue Supplement_1, June 2025, deaf097.636, https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deaf097.636 Q1 – IF 6.2 2. Piacenti I, Tius V, Viscardi MF, Biasioli A, Arcieri M, Restaino S, Muzii L, Vizzielli G, Porpora MG. Dienogest vs. combined oral contraceptive: A systematic review and meta-analysis of efficacy and side effects to inform evidence-based guidelines. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025 May 1. doi: 10.1111/aogs.15145. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40312882. Q1 – IF 3.5 3. Viscardi MF, Piacenti I, Musella A, Cacciamani L, Piccioni MG, Manganaro L, Muzii L, Porpora MG. Endometriosis in Adolescents: A Closer Look at the Pain Characteristics and Atypical Symptoms: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Clin Med. 2025 Feb 19;14(4):1392. doi: 10.3390/jcm14041392. PMID: 40004922; PMCID: PMC11856142. Q1 – IF 3 4. Sessa R, Filardo S, Viscardi MF, Brandolino G, Muzii L, Di Pietro M, Porpora MG. Characterization of the vaginal microbiota in Italian women with endometriosis: preliminary study. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 Aug 16. doi: 10.1007/s00404-024-07631-x. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39150504. Q2 – IF 2.1 5. Merlino L, Matys V, Crognale A, D’Ovidio G, Della Rocca C, Porpora MG, Titi L, Viscardi MF, Volpicelli AI, Piccioni MG. Neurological Complications in Pregnancy and the Puerperium: Methodology for a Clinical Diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2023; 12(8):2994. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12082994 Q1 - IF 4.964 6. Merlino L, D’Ovidio G, Matys V, Piccioni MG, Porpora MG, Senatori R, Viscardi MF, Vitale A, Della Rocca C, on behalf of Policlinico Umberto I Collaborators. Therapeutic Choices for Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM) in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Update. Pharmaceuticals. 2023; 16(4):550. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16040550 Q1- IF 5.215 7. Anastasi E, Scaramuzzino S, Viscardi MF, Viggiani V, Piccioni MG, Cacciamani L, Merlino L, Angeloni A, Muzii L, Porpora MG. Efficacy of N-Acetylcysteine on Endometriosis-Related Pain, Size Reduction of Ovarian Endometriomas, and Fertility Outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(6):4686. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064686 Q1- IF 4.614 8. Merlino L, Matys V, D’Ovidio G, Piccioni MG, Porpora MG, Titi L, Viscardi MF, Volpicelli AI, Della Rocca C. A Brief Overview on Vulvodynia: Pain Pharmacological Management Approach. Current Overview on Pharmaceutical Science Vol. 8. Chapter 6. 2023 9. Sessa R, Filardo S, Masciullo L, Di Pietro M, Angeloni A, Brandolino G, Brunelli R, D’Alisa R, Viscardi MF, Anastasi E, Porpora MG. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy: Clues and Proof of Adverse Outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(3):2616. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20032616 Q1- IF 4.614 10. Sessa R, Masciullo L, Filardo S, Pietro MD, Brandolino G, Brunelli R, Galoppi P, Terrin G, Viscardi MF, Anastasi E, Porpora MG. SARS-CoV-2 vertical transmission in a twin-pregnant woman: a case report. Int J Infect Dis. 2022 Oct 19:S1201-9712(22)00558-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.10.019. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36272699; PMCID: PMC9579137 Q1- IF 12.7 11. Sessa R, Anastasi E, Brandolino G, Brunelli R, Di Pietro M, Filardo S, Masciullo L, Terrin G, Viscardi MF and Porpora MG. What is the Hidden Biological Mechanism Underlying the Possible SARS-CoV- 2 Vertical Transmission? A Mini Review. Front. Physiol. 2022 May;13:875806. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.875806 Q1- IF 4.134 12. Prosperi Porta R, Sangiuliano C, Cavalli A, Hirose Marques Pereira LC, Masciullo L, Piacenti I, Scaramuzzino S, Viscardi MF, Porpora MG. Effects of Breastfeeding on Endometriosis-Related Pain: A Prospective Observational Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(20):10602. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010602 Q1- IF 4.614 13. Masciullo L, Viscardi MF, Piacenti I, Scaramuzzino S, Cavalli A, Piccioni MG, Porpora MG. A deep insight into pelvic pain and endometriosis: a review of the literature from pathophysiology to clinical expressions. Minerva Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Oct;73(5):511-522. doi: 10.23736/S2724-606X.21.04779- 1. Epub 2021 Apr 27. PMID: 33904687 Q3 - IF 1.8 14. Piacenti I, Viscardi MF, Masciullo L, Sangiuliano C, Scaramuzzino S, Piccioni MG, Muzii L, Benedetti Panici P, Porpora MG. Dienogest versus continuous oral levonorgestrel/EE in patients with endometriosis: what's the best choice? Gynecol Endocrinol. 2021 May;37(5):471-475. doi: 10.1080/09513590.2021.1892632. Epub 2021 Mar 2. PMID: 33650928 Q2 - IF 2.227