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Reproductive Longevity Trade-Off

Meaning

The Reproductive Longevity Trade-Off is a biological hypothesis suggesting an inverse and reciprocal relationship between an organism’s investment in maximizing reproductive function and its overall lifespan or healthspan. This fundamental evolutionary concept posits that the significant metabolic and energetic resources allocated to high-intensity reproductive processes may be diverted away from essential somatic maintenance and cellular repair mechanisms, consequently accelerating the aging process. In human health, this is observed as a complex interplay between lifetime sex hormone exposure, the duration of reproductive cycles, and the long-term risk of chronic degenerative diseases.