Female reproductive health in long-duration space missions: a narrative review of current challenges

Herrada-Torres, José Santos; Castro-Gaona, Lizbeth Kely; Quintana-García, Lynn A.; Reyes-Lezama, Dayana Kelly; Vargas-Maucaylle, Magdalena Michely; Sanchez-Medina, Fabrizio Manuel; Perez-Velasquez, Jhareth Ariana; Mendoza Pariona, Angie Shirley · Revista Científica de Astrobiología, 3(1), 1-11 (2026) · DOI: 10.69976/aspast.v3n1.1

Resumen

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

Instituciones: Universidad de Huánuco