Women's health and female fertility: current evidence and knowledge gaps in the Asia–Pacific region
Abstract
In the face of declining global birth rates, women's health status remains a critical yet often overlooked determinant. This review summarises evidence on how various aspects of women's health, including nutrition and lifestyle, socioeconomic status, environmental pollutants, and metabolic and reproductive health are related to birth rates and female fertility. A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and mental wellbeing along with optimal metabolic and reproductive health, supports women's health. Meanwhile, broader determinants, such as socioeconomic status and environmental pollutants, also shape women's health and reproductive wellbeing. Collectively, these individual and systemic factors influence female fertility and birth outcomes, and subsequently, population-level birth rates. However, most existing evidence is based on White populations, underscoring the need for more inclusive research, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Improving women's health and fertility outcomes requires a holistic approach, with coordinated efforts across research, education, and policy domains.
Related
- Genomic evidence for Z-W differentiation in Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) and sex-chromosome diversity in Beloniformes
- Cattle production, water resources, and sustainability: a review of current knowledge and future directions.
- Multicriteria assessment of cropping systems under contrasted soil fertility managements: evidence from mixed farming in the Madagascar highlands
- Ancient genomes of Sitka black-tailed deer show evidence for early postglacial dispersal along the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America.
- Nicarbazin-Based Fertility Control for Urban Pigeon Management: A Review of Experimental, Regulatory and Operational Evidence.
BibTeX
@article{yang2026womens,
title = {{Women's health and female fertility: current evidence and knowledge gaps in the Asia–Pacific region}},
author = {Jiaxi Yang and Wei Wei Pang and Guoqi Yu and Juliana Antero and Ling-Jun Li and Zhongwei Huang and Cuilin Zhang},
journal = {The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101710},
url = {https://insep.hal.science/hal-05790152v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Women's health and female fertility: current evidence and knowledge gaps in the Asia–Pacific region
AU - Jiaxi Yang
AU - Wei Wei Pang
AU - Guoqi Yu
AU - Juliana Antero
AU - Ling-Jun Li
AU - Zhongwei Huang
AU - Cuilin Zhang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
DO - 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2025.101710
UR - https://insep.hal.science/hal-05790152v1
AB - In the face of declining global birth rates, women's health status remains a critical yet often overlooked determinant. This review summarises evidence on how various aspects of women's health, including nutrition and lifestyle, socioeconomic status, environmental pollutants, and metabolic and reproductive health are related to birth rates and female fertility. A healthy lifestyle, including a balanced, nutrient-rich diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep, and mental wellbeing along with optimal metabolic and reproductive health, supports women's health. Meanwhile, broader determinants, such as socioeconomic status and environmental pollutants, also shape women's health and reproductive wellbeing. Collectively, these individual and systemic factors influence female fertility and birth outcomes, and subsequently, population-level birth rates. However, most existing evidence is based on White populations, underscoring the need for more inclusive research, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Improving women's health and fertility outcomes requires a holistic approach, with coordinated efforts across research, education, and policy domains.
SN - 2666-6065
ER -