Protective Effects of Melatonin on the Female Reproductive System

© 2026 by the Authors. Licensee Whioce Publishing, Singapore. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )

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Abstract

Melatonin (MT) is an indoleamine hormone secreted predominantly by the pineal gland and exhibits diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, immunomodulatory, and mitochondrial-protective effects. In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the role of MT in the regulation of female reproductive function and in the prevention and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system. Accumulating evidence indicates that MT is involved in follicular development, oocyte maturation, sex steroid secretion, embryonic development, and pregnancy maintenance by scavenging reactive oxygen species, improving mitochondrial function, and modulating the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis and related signaling pathways. This review summarizes the biological properties and principal mechanisms of action of MT, with a focus on recent advances in its roles in ovarian function preservation, maintenance of oocyte quality, improvement of embryonic development, and intervention in pregnancy-related disorders.

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