Oxidative stress and female reproductive disorder: A review

Abstract

Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance between the body’s pro-oxidants and antioxidants. Recently, oxidative stress has been proven a contributing factor to many female reproductive disorders including infertility, preeclampsia, endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Herein, we review the mechanistic role of oxidative stress in inducing the most common female reproductive disorders. The current review has also highlighted the protective role of vitamin C, necessary for certain female reproductive hormone secretion by the antral follicle and corpus luteum and also essential for collagen production in ovarian tissue remodeling after ovulation, in alleviating oxidative stress and thus improving female reproductive outcomes.

Keywords

• oxidative stress; gynaecological disorders; infertility; endometriosis; preeclampsia; vitamin c