The effect of stress hormones on reproductive function in this era of prevailing climatic change
1 Department of Human Physiology, Federal University Lokoja, Nigeria.
2 Department of Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
3 Aston Pharmacy School, College of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
4 Department of Animal Production, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria.
5 Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, University of Port-harcourt, Port-harcourt, Nigeria.
6 School of Public Health, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State, Nigeria.
7 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Port-harcourt, Port-harcourt, Nigeria.
Review
International Journal of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences Archive, 2025, 10(02), 129-147.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijbpsa.2025.10.2.0084
Publication history:
Received 08 October 2025; revised on 17 November 2025; accepted on 19 November 2025
Abstract:
In an era defined by escalating climate change, the interplay between environmental stressors and reproductive health emerges as a critical challenge, with stress hormones like cortisol and catecholamines acting as pivotal mediators. This review elucidates how climate-induced stressors, rising temperatures, extreme weather, food scarcity, and habitat loss disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, impairing gamete quality, suppressing fertility, and altering reproductive behaviors across humans and wildlife. Through intricate physiological pathways, including HPA-HPG axis crosstalk and epigenetic modifications, chronic stress hormone elevation undermines reproductive success, threatening human fertility, food security, and biodiversity. From heat-stressed dairy cows to vulnerable human populations in tropical regions, the cascading effects of climate change amplify reproductive dysfunction, with profound implications for population dynamics and ecosystem stability. By synthesizing cutting-edge research, this paper highlights the urgency of integrating climate adaptation, public health interventions, and conservation strategies to mitigate these impacts. It calls for interdisciplinary efforts to address research gaps, particularly in transgenerational effects, to safeguard reproductive health and ensure sustainable futures in a warming world.
Keywords:
Climate Change; Stress Hormones; Reproductive Function; Cortisol; Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis; Fertility; Biodiversity; Epigenetic Effects
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Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0