Female reproductive health in long-duration space missions: a narrative review of current challenges
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69976/aspast.v3n1.1Keywords:
Cosmic radiation, female reproductive health, microgravity, spaceflight, space medicineAbstract
Female reproductive health represents a critical dimension of long-duration spaceflight. This narrative review examined the impacts of space exposure, prolonged microgravity, cosmic radiation, and circadian rhythm disruption on female fertility and maternal–fetal health during space missions. A search was conducted in high-impact databases, and gray literature was also considered. The available evidence suggests that microgravity and radiation could suppress progesterone levels, reduce the ovarian reserve, or induce a nonreceptive endometrial phenotype. Furthermore, dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis and gamete degradation could pose critical threats to conception and fetal development. Current mitigation strategies remain insufficient; hormonal contraception and assisted reproductive technologies have been explored, but they lack validation under real-world spaceflight conditions. These findings underscore the urgent need for biomedical protocols, regulatory frameworks, and ethical standards that enable safe and inclusive space missions.
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Copyright (c) 2026 José Santos Herrada-Torres, Lizbeth Kely Castro-Gaona, Lynn A. Quintana- García, Dayana Kelly Reyes-Lezama, Magdalena Michely Vargas-Maucaylle, Fabrizio Manuel Sanchez-Medina, Jhareth Ariana Perez Velasquez, Angie Shirley Mendoza Pariona (Autor/a)
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