Epigenetic clocks of female reproductive system aging: Current application and future prospects

A progressive decline in fertility is a well-documented aspect of female aging and is associated with a range of cellular and molecular alterations, including genomic instability and modifications in epigenetic regulation. Epigenetic clocks, which estimate biological age based on DNA methylation patterns, have been extensively utilized to evaluate general health status and the risk of various diseases. Despite their broad application, the utility of epigenetic clocks in assessing female reproductive health remains only partially characterized. This minireview consolidates recent advancements in the application of epigenetic clocks to evaluate the functional status of the female reproductive system. The objective is to investigate their potential for quantifying and predicting the biological age of reproductive tissues, thereby establishing a theoretical basis for clinical applications in reproductive medicine. To date, no comprehensive minireview has systematically examined multi-tissue epigenetic clock models in the context of female reproductive aging, positioning this minireview as a novel contribution to the field.