Epidemiological research progress on effects of night shift work on female reproductive health

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) defines shift work as any arrangement of daily working hours other than the standard daylight hours (typically 7:00/8:00 am–5:00/6:00 pm). To meet the needs of rapid socioeconomic development, shift work is becoming more and more common. The impact of shift work, especially night shift work, on human health cannot be ignored. Female's health is not only important to the well-being of themselves, but also has a far-reaching impact on their children and even their entire family. Increasing epidemiological studies have focused on the effects of night shift work on female's reproductive health. This article reviewed epidemiological evidence of the associations between night shift work and reproductive outcomes, e.g. menstrual cycle, endometriosis, pregnancy rate, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and ovarian cancer. The potential biological mechanisms connecting night shift work to female reproductive health were also introduced, e.g. melatonin regulation, clock gene regulation, and sex hormone regulation. Through this review, we propose to provide a reference for determining occupational risk factors, conducting subsequent relevant studies, and formulating rational health promotion strategies.