SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Abstract

Climate change has emerged as one of the most significant global public health challenges of the twenty-first century. Beyond its well-recognized effects on environmental sustainability, climate change exerts profound impacts on human health, particularly reproductive health. Rising global temperatures, increasing air pollution, frequent extreme weather events, wildfires, floods, and the spread of vector-borne diseases contribute to adverse reproductive outcomes in both men and women. This review synthesizes current evidence regarding the relationship between climate-related environmental exposures and reproductive health outcomes, including fertility impairment, pregnancy complications, fetal development disorders, and adverse birth outcomes. Available evidence indicates that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, infants, low-income communities, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Understanding these relationships is essential for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to protect reproductive health in current and future generations.