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Metabolic Control of Reproduction

Meaning

Metabolic Control of Reproduction describes the fundamental physiological principle that the body’s reproductive axis is exquisitely sensitive to, and directly regulated by, the overall energy status and metabolic health of the organism. This crucial biological mechanism ensures that fertility and reproductive processes are only activated and sustained when sufficient nutritional resources are available to support gestation and lactation. Clinical conditions like functional hypothalamic amenorrhea or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) illustrate a pathological decoupling or dysregulation of this control, often driven by energy deficit or insulin resistance, respectively. Maintaining a healthy metabolic profile is therefore paramount for optimal reproductive endocrinology.