If humanity really hopes to create a solar system, it must overcome arguably the biggest challenge of any technological hurdle: extraterrestrial human reproduction. The idea may sound like science fiction, but a group of experts say finding a way to protect astronauts’ reproductive health—even making babies in space—is a real and urgent matter.
In a report published Tuesday in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online, these experts argue that now is the time to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for reproductive health and research in space. As both the distance and length of human spaceflight are extended, space hazards pose increasing risks to reproduction, gamete health, and fetal development.
“While we do not recommend in-space reproduction at this time, it is important to prepare for reproductive risks as renewed interest in lunar missions and Mars exploration grows,” lead author Giles Palmer, an embryologist and executive director of the International IVF Initiative, told Gizmodo in an email. “Breeding in space is still a distant prospect, but strong planning is needed to address the biological, ethical, and health risks that may arise.”
Reproductive risks of spaceflight
Because the human body evolved here on Earth, it is fine-tuned to function under the natural conditions of our home planet. So space is completely incompatible with our biology and physics.
Radiation and microgravity are two major hazards to an astronaut’s reproductive health. “Space radiation can damage DNA, disrupt gamete formation, and increase the risk of cancer, while microgravity disrupts hormonal regulation, gamete quality, and embryo development,” Palmer explained.
Other environmental threats include toxic dust from the moon or Martian regolith, limited resources, and chemical or biological contamination inside enclosed spacecraft, all of which can harm the health of mother and child, he added. Being in space can also disrupt astronauts’ circadian rhythms—leading to hormonal imbalances and decreased fertility—and cause psychological stress that can affect reproductive function.
“In the long term, long-term exposure to these conditions may cause increased reproductive harm and risks to livestock, including epigenetic changes that alter gene expression and may impact fertility and the health of future offspring,” said Palmer.
Charging is the safe, ethical way forward
Before scientists can address these risks, they need to fill critical knowledge gaps about them. For example, studies in animal models have shown that short-term radiation exposure disrupts menstrual cycles and increases the risk of cancer, but Palmer’s review found little reliable data from astronauts returning from long-duration space missions.
Although data provided by women who flew on NASA’s Space Shuttle missions showed that subsequent pregnancy rates and complications were not significantly affected, limited data have so far been reported from men and women who flew long missions. As such, there is a need for new evidence to “guide diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic strategies in extraterrestrial environments,” the report’s authors wrote.
Future studies should aim to improve our understanding of how atmospheric hazards affect different stages of the reproductive process, according to Palmer and colleagues. This new information will help scientists develop more effective strategies to protect the reproductive health of astronauts, such as radiation protection, therapeutic measures, and birth control methods.
“The development of AI-assisted reproductive technologies, automation, and non-invasive tools will be key to their safe use in space, as well as establishing clear ethical guidelines that prioritize informed consent, transparency, gender equality, and protecting future generations,” Palmer said.
One cannot overstate the importance of these ethical guidelines as humanity expands its reach beyond Earth and advances into space production. But to be clear, scientists will not send pregnant people into space for research or any other purpose. Instead, they will rely on simulated environments and non-human models to study the reproductive risks of spaceflight, Palmer explained.
However, “entering this new field of research makes it imperative to act now by establishing an international framework and a joint board to review the principles of the field,” he said. This will not only ensure that reproductive research in space is conducted safely, responsibly, and transparently, but will also protect the future of humanity as we work to establish a sustainable existence beyond Earth.
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