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.