Reproductive health of a woman is the main component of human health and determines the demographic indicators of society. Many factors affect women’s health, including the environment.

The research objective was to study the range of reproductive disorders in three generations of women: those who actually were on the trace of nuclear explosion on August 29, 1949 (the ancestors), their daughters (the first generation of descendants), and their granddaughters (the second generation of descendants).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The cross-sectional (one stage) controlled study was conducted in several steps. The main group (the first subgroup) consisted of women (233) who were in the zone of radiation impact of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (ancestors). The second subgroup of the main group included 247 women, these are daughters of women who were in the radiation exposure zone. The third subgroup of the main group was represented by granddaughters (112) of women who were in the radiation exposure zone. There were control groups for each generation of women. Hormonal status, immunogram indicators, somatic and gynecological pathology were studied in the compared groups of women.

RESULTS

The analysis showed a high level of hormone-dependent diseases of female genital organs, menstrual disorders in all three generations of women. Disruption of reproductive function is more characteristic for the second generation of descendants whose ancestors were in the radiation exposure zone. The high incidence of inflammatory diseases of the reproductive organs is most likely due to changes in the immune system, unidirectional in women of three generations as low percentage of the number of T-lymphocytes (CD3⁺), cytotoxic T-cells (CD8⁺), high immunoregulatory index (CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio).

CONCLUSIONS

The range of reproductive dysfunctions identified in all three generations of women indicates direct and delayed damaging radiation effects on the reproductive system.