Autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the vascular access most commonly used for hemodialysis (HD) patients. In clinical practice, the prevalence of AVF stenosis is 4.6% to 10.8%. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of AVF stenosis is of vital significance to prolong the blood the access period of AVF and to improve the quality of life in HD patients. This article briefly introduces the autogenous AVF stenosis and its classification, and summarizes the research progresses in the mechanism of AVF stenosis, including vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, platelet aggregation and thrombus formation, inflammatory reaction, hemodynamic shear force, hypoxia, immune system, genetics and individual differences. The presence of AVF stenosis is the interaction results of multiple factors. A deep understanding of these mechanisms contributes to the development of effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to increase the patency rate of AVF in HD patients.