Hypoxia and ovarian function: A mini-review

Background: Hypoxia has a negative effect on the reproductive system; specifically, women in high-altitude have a higher probability of assisted reproduction due to low ovarian reserve function areas than do those in low-altitude regions of the same age group. However, data regarding the effect of hypoxia on ovarian function in women is insufficient. At present, there only a few observational studies on the changes in sex hormones in relation to hypoxia exist, and there has been little research conducted on the mechanism. Therefore, this mini-review synthesized the current knowledge of the mechanistic relationship between hypoxia and ovarian function. Existing studies have shown that hypoxia can affect ovarian function, but further in-depth research and more attention to this area of study are required.