Demographic and evolutionary trends in ovarian function and aging

Abstract

The human female reproductive lifespan is regulated by the dynamics of ovarian function, which in turn is influenced by several factors: from the basic molecular biological mechanisms governing folliculogenesis, to environmental and lifestyle factors affecting the ovarian reserve between conception and menopause. From a broader point of view, global and regional demographic trends play an additional important role in shaping the female reproductive lifespan, and finally,influences on an evolutionary scale have led to the reproductive senescence that precedes somatic senescence in humans. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE: The narrative review covers reproductive medicine, by integrating the molecular mechanisms of ovarian function and aging with short-term demographic and long-term evolutionary trends.