Research progress on reproductive system damage caused by high altitude hypoxia

The high altitude area is characterized by low pressure and hypoxia, and rapidly entering the high altitude area will cause a series of damage to the body. Some studies have shown that hypoxia can cause damage to the reproductive system. In recent years, researchers have been paying attention to the effects of hypoxia on hormone level, ovarian reserve, embryonic development, testicular development, sperm motility level, and have begun to explore its injury mechanism, but its mechanism is not clear. In this paper, the mechanism of hypoxia on the reproductive system is reviewed, which is expected to provide a new idea for solving the problem of the low fertility rate of humans and animals at high altitudes.

A comprehensive PubMed search was conducted, selecting all relevant peer-reviewed English papers published before January 2022. Other relevant papers were selected from the list of references.

Studies have shown that the complete fertility rate of people living at low altitudes is 7.7, and the complete fertility rate of people living at high altitudes is 4.77, and the hypoxic environment at high altitudes reduces fertility. At the same time, high-altitude, low-oxygen environments are associated with increased infant mortality and post-neonatal mortality. To date, most studies seem to point to a correlation between anoxic exposure at high altitudes and low fertility in humans and animals.

Although the molecular mechanisms are not fully understood, the effects of hypoxia at high altitude on hormonal level, ovarian reserve, embryonic development, testicular development, and sperm motility and levels require further research to investigate this complex topic.