THE EFFECT OF CIRCADIAN RHYTHM ON FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN HUMANS: A REVIEW

Circadian clocks are built-in, self-maintaining timekeeping systems that allow organisms to predict changes in their
environment and adjust their behaviour and physiology accordingly (Morse and Sassone-Corsi, 2002). Losing circadian
clocks is bad for organisms because it makes them less likely to reproduce and live longer in controlled lab settings and less likely to survive in the
wild (Vaze et al 2014). Disruptions in the circadian system can throw biological and behavioural cycles out of sync, which can have severe
consequences for human health (Bedrosian and Nelson, 2017). This paper offers an in-depth review of the concept of circadian rhythm, the effect
of disruption on human systems and diseases linked to such disruption, such as cancer, immunodeciency, sleep disorders, metabolic and
cardiovascular system disorders, mental and health problems. It specically focuses on the adverse impact of disruption in circadian rhythm on
the female reproductive system in the form of infertility, ovulatory disturbances, frequent miscarriages, birth defects and breast carcinoma. It also
discusses some interventions that can be used to mitigate disruptions in circadian rhythm, based on the existing research. This paper adds to the
existing literature on impact of circadian rhythm, especially on issues related to female reproductive health and is a useful resource for students,
researchers and medical practitioners.