Oxidative Stress Impact on Female Reproductive Health
Summary
Physiological levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and related oxidative signals are essential for processes such as folliculogenesis, ovulation, endometrial remodelling and early embryo development. However, when ROS production exceeds the capacity of endogenous antioxidant systems, oxidative stress ensues and inflicts damage on lipids, proteins and DNA within oocytes, granulosa cells and uterine tissues. Consequences include impaired oocyte competence, disrupted endometrial receptivity, increased implantation failure and pregnancy loss, as well as accelerated depletion of the primordial follicle pool. Key defence mechanisms involve enzymatic antioxidants—such as superoxide dismutases and glutathione peroxidases—and non-enzymatic scavengers. Environmental toxins, metabolic disorders and age-related decline in antioxidant capacity further exacerbate redox imbalance. Recent advances in nanoscale sensing, molecular profiling and therapeutic delivery underscore the global significance of redox homeostasis in fertility preservation, optimisation of assisted reproductive technologies and mitigation of age-related reproductive decline.
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Oxidative Stress Impact on Female Reproductive Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in oxidative stress impact on female reproductive health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Reactive oxygen species (ROS): chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen, including superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals.
Oxidative stress: a state in which the generation of reactive species overwhelms antioxidant defences, leading to molecular and cellular damage.
Lipid peroxidation: the oxidative degradation of polyunsaturated lipids in membranes, resulting in loss of structural integrity and generation of reactive aldehydes.
Ferroptosis: an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by accumulation of lipid peroxides.
Granulosa cells: somatic cells within ovarian follicles that surround and nourish the oocyte, playing a key role in steroidogenesis and oocyte support.
References
- Excessive Lipid Peroxidation in Uterine Epithelium Causes Implantation Failure and Pregnancy Loss. Advanced Science (2023).
- Quantum Sensing of Free Radicals in Primary Human Granulosa Cells with Nanoscale Resolution. ACS Central Science (2023).
- Oocytes maintain low ROS levels to support the dormancy of primordial follicles. Aging Cell (2024).
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