Therapeutic Targets and Drug Leads for Reproductive Health

Reproductive health implies the total well-being of an individual in all aspects of reproduction, including physical, behavioral, emotional, and social well-being. Maintaining a functional reproductive health status is critical for ensuring community and family health. Reproductive disorders present a global health concern that considerably impacts human health and are more challenging to diagnose and treat, increasing the likelihood of comorbidity. Owing to the involvement of a multitude of factors in the development and pathophysiology of reproductive diseases, the identification of critical therapeutic targets becomes challenging. Factors influencing ovarian function and endometrial receptivity represent ideal treatment targets due to their importance in influencing fertility and successful pregnancy outcomes. Components of the immune system and inflammatory pathways are central to various reproductive events, which can be therapeutically manipulated for the management of reproductive pathologies in which inflammatory dysregulation plays a central role. Additionally, targeting the reproductive tract microbiota and pathogenic microbes involved in reproductive tract infections provides a promising approach to restoring reproductive health. Treatment of reproductive disorders mainly includes drugs for treating menstrual disorders, drugs for fertility treatments, and those for treating reproductive infections. Herbal medicines offer a holistic and safe approach to the management of reproductive disorders, and currently, a number of active compounds derived from natural sources have demonstrated the potential to develop into successful drug candidates. The chapter summarizes data on the different therapeutic targets in reproductive disorders with the description of potential drug leads that have proven promising in the management of reproductive pathologies.