Reproductive health in space: A new study warns that space exploration faces an urgent reproductive health crisis. Experts call for immediate international standards to address biological risks of radiation and microgravity as humanity moves to long-term life beyond Earth

As commercial spaceflight expands and humans spend more time outside Earth, New research warns it’s important to take control of your reproductive health It’s no longer a theoretical question. Published on February 3, 2026 Reproductive Biomedicine Onlinethe report claims that the harsh environment of space poses significant risks to human biology under investigation.

Lead author of the study, clinical embryologist Giles Palmer, points out that although assisted reproductive technology (ART) has come a long way, there is still no industry-wide standard for space travel. The study highlights that the collision between space exploration and reproductive science has become a “real reality” as space becomes a daily workplace for more people.

Biological risks and reproductive health in space

An international team of experts has identified several factors in outer space that are detrimental to healthy reproduction. The main concerns are:

• Cosmic radiation:
  • Exposure can disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle and increase her risk of cancer. Significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the cumulative effects on male fertility.
• Microgravity:
  • Changes in gravity are known to impair hormonal balance and sperm motility.
• Disturbance of circadian rhythm:
  • The lack of a natural day/night cycle can interfere with complex reproductive processes.

While data from short-duration missions has provided some reassurance for female astronauts, the study highlights a lack of evidence for long-duration missions. Scientists are calling for new research to guide diagnostic and prevention strategies for people living in extraterrestrial environments.

The role of assisted reproductive technology

The report suggests that existing in vitro fertilization and cryopreservation techniques could be adapted for use in space. Many of today’s medical tools are already highly automated, portable, and suited to the operational demands of orbital laboratories.

However, the authors make it clear that their goal is not to facilitate conception in space, but to protect people traveling to space. They argue that advances in reproductive medicine often occur in extreme conditions before it becomes widely used around the globe.

Ethics and policy blind spots

Beyond the biological challenges, this research raises urgent ethical questions. Currently, there are no clear policies regarding disclosure of pregnancy during flight, genetic screening of space travelers, or legal liability for space agencies or private companies.

Senior author Dr. Fatih Karuia, a research scientist at NASA, said reproductive health can no longer remain a “policy blind spot.” The report concludes that international cooperation is needed to establish guidelines to protect both professional astronauts and civilians and ensure human safety for a sustained presence beyond Earth.