Imperishable research work was done on females visiting high-altitude (HA) areas for recreational activities or job purposes as well as on female HA natives. Hypoxia at HA is an unavoidable condition that affects the determinants of female reproductive functions like, the age of menarche and menopause, whole reproductive span, hormone synthesis, and fertility. This review will emphasize whether HA hypoxia is a threat to women: residents or visitors by analyzing these proximate determinants. Delayed menarcheal and advanced menopausal age was found to shorten the reproductive span in some HA populations, whereas in some cases, menstrual cycle was also reported to be irregular. In addition, the completed fertility rate (CFR) was increased when people migrated to lower altitude. Altered stress hormones and reproductive hormones were observed in sea-level females exposed to HA. Oxidative stress (OS) at HA was also reviewed to explain the probable reasons for the observed changes in these determinants because disturbed redox homeostasis may be a connecting link, affecting the reproductive functions. In conclusion, HA hypoxia plays a crucial role on various determinants of female reproductive health and this review will be helpful for more precise study along with the probable underlying mechanisms responsible for the changes in female reproductive functions at HA.
Keywords: Fertility; High altitude; Hypoxia; Menarche; Menopause; Oxidative stress; Reproductive health; Women.