"CLIMATE CHANGE AND WOMEN’S HEALTH: REPRODUCTIVE AND GYNAECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS"

Abstract

One of the biggest risks to the world's population's health is climate change. It is caused by human activity-induced increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, such as burning fossil fuels (carbon dioxide), raising animals (methane from manure), industry (ozone, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide), vehicle/factory exhaust, and aerosols of chlorofluorocarbons, which trap additional heat in the earth's atmosphere. Globally, climate change affects human health and well-being both directly and indirectly. Vulnerable groups such as women, pregnant women, fetuses, children, older adults, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, people with preexisting and/or chronic medical conditions, low-income people, and communities of color are disproportionately affected. Despite having significant effects on human development, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes, the effects of climate change on reproductive and gynecologic processes and outcomes have gotten less attention worldwide. With an emphasis on gynecologic and reproductive processes, this review offers evidence of both direct and indirect impacts of climate change on human health. In order to alter the current course of harm, the objective is to raise awareness among clinicians, researchers, the general public, and policymakers regarding the effects of climate change on reproductive and gynecologic health.