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Reproduction under Siege: How Chronic Stress Hijacks the HPG Axis?

Duo Xu1, Xu Zhao1, Wanxin Chen1

  • 1School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.

Neuroendocrinology
|July 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Chronic stress disrupts the body

Area of Science:

  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Stress Physiology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Chronic stress significantly disrupts physiological balance (homeostasis).
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis is a key player in stress-related diseases.
  • Existing research highlights the HPG axis's involvement in stress pathophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence on how chronic stress affects the HPG axis.
  • To reframe stress-related conditions through the lens of HPG axis dysfunction.
  • To explore hormone-centric therapies for stress-induced health issues.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review synthesizing evidence on HPG axis 'hijacking' by stress.
  • Analysis of the interplay between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathetic nervous system, and HPG axis.
  • Examination of clinical data supporting hormone-based interventions.

Main Results:

  • Chronic stress activates the HPA axis, suppressing the GnRH pulse generator.
  • Sympathetic nervous system activation directly impairs the production of gonadal steroids.
  • Reduced sex steroids create a detrimental, sex-specific cycle of allostatic overload, worsening stress and immune responses.

Conclusions:

  • HPG axis dysregulation is central to stress-related pathologies.
  • Sex hormones are crucial targets for therapeutic interventions.
  • Hormone-centric approaches can restore physiological and mental health in stress-related conditions.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chronic stressHPA axisHPG axisNeuroendocrineReproductionSex hormones

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