Reproductive ageing in women

The traditional view in respect to female reproduction is that the number of oocytes at birth is fixed and continuously declines towards the point when no more oocytes are available after menopause. In this review we briefly discuss the embryonic development of female germ cells and ovarian follicle...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of pathology 2007-01, Vol.211 (2), p.219-231
Main Authors: Djahanbakhch, O, Ezzati, M, Zosmer, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
ageing
Aging - physiology
aneuploidy
Child
Chromosome Aberrations
Female
follicle
FSH
GnRH
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone - physiology
Gonadotropins, Pituitary - physiology
Humans
Infant
Maternal Age
meiosis
Menopause - physiology
Middle Aged
Neurosecretory Systems - growth & development
Neurosecretory Systems - physiology
obstetric
oocyte
Oocytes - physiology
Ovarian Follicle - physiology
perinatal
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications - physiopathology
Pregnancy Outcome
Puberty - physiology
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Summary:The traditional view in respect to female reproduction is that the number of oocytes at birth is fixed and continuously declines towards the point when no more oocytes are available after menopause. In this review we briefly discuss the embryonic development of female germ cells and ovarian follicles. The ontogeny of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis is then discussed, with a focus on pubertal transition and normal ovulatory menstrual cycles during female adult life. Biochemical markers of menopausal transition are briefly examined. We also examine the effects of age on female fertility, the contribution of chromosomal abnormalities of the oocyte to the observed decline in female fertility with age and the possible biological basis for the occurrence of such abnormalities. Finally, we consider the effects of maternal age on obstetric complications and perinatal outcome. New data that have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of mammalian oogenesis and follicular formation, and of the female reproductive ageing process, are also briefly considered. Copyright © 2007 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0022-3417
1096-9896
DOI:10.1002/path.2108