Space reproduction policy must catch up with exploration, experts urge

An international study warns that the space environment—microgravity, cosmic radiation, and circadian disruption—poses risks to fertility and pregnancy, highlighting a lack of standardized policies for reproductive health in space as commercial and governmental missions expand. Researchers call for urgent international collaboration to establish ethical guidelines and protective standards for astronauts, noting that assisted reproductive technologies could assist future research but have not enabled human pregnancy in space.