Reproduction in females: The role of the early life environment

Abstract

Background: There is now compelling evidence that long-term health and physiological function are modified by events that occur early in life and involve interactions between the genome and the developmental environment. That reproductive function may similarly be influenced by early life events has been established in selected human populations, and investigations into underlying mechanisms are the subject of current animal studies. Methods: No systematic literature search was conducted. This review highlights early life influences on reproduction with a particular focus on nutritional impacts, and provides a brief overview with reference to some key studies in both the human and animal lit..