Review Article Published on 29 Jul, 2026

Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues among Recreational Female Hikers at High Altitude: A Scoping Review

SRH among Female Hikers
Vol. 21 No. 2 : 2026 (588-609)

Fathiah Jabir Fathiah Jabir
Hanis Abdul Rani Hanis Abdul Rani
Rosnah Ismail Rosnah Ismail
Rosnah Sutan Rosnah Sutan

Abstract
Hiking offers well-documented cardiovascular, psychological and sleep benefits and is increasingly popular among women. However, strenuous conditions at high altitude introduce unique challenges to female physiology, particularly their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). This scoping review explores the SRH issues experienced by recreational female hikers especially at high altitude. It was conducted according to Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and was reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). A systematic search was performed across PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, using keywords and synonyms related to females, reproductive health, hiking and high altitude. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies addressing SRH issues faced by female hikers. Fifteen studies met these criteria. Reported issues clustered into six topics: menstrual disturbances and hormonal dysregulation; nutrition–menstrual interactions; pregnancy at high altitude; contraceptive considerations; the association between menstruation and acute mountain sickness; and other challenges, including sexual harassment and menstruation-related participation barriers. Most studies were small and observational, with more than half published before 2005, limiting the certainty of the evidence. Despite the growing participation of women in hiking and mountaineering, substantial gaps remain in understanding the short-term effects of high-altitude exposure on female SRH. This review highlights the necessity for targeted research to address these knowledge gaps and to develop evidence-based guidelines for female hikers. Ensuring safe participation in high-altitude activities will allow women to realise these benefits without compromising reproductive health.
Keywords : Female hikers; high altitude; sexual and reproductive health,
Abstrak
Aktiviti pendakian merupakan satu aktiviti yang memberi manfaat kesihatan dari segi kardiovaskular, psikologi dan kualiti tidur. Aktiviti ini juga semakin popular di kalangan wanita. Walau bagaimanapun, keadaan persekitaran di kawasan altitud tinggi boleh memberi kesan yang unik kepada fisiologi wanita, terutamanya kepada kesihatan seksual dan reproduktif (SRH) mereka. Ulasan skop ini melihat isu-isu SRH yang dialami oleh pendaki wanita yang terdedah kepada persekitaran altitud tinggi dalam masa yang singkat. Ulasan ini dijalankan mengikut metodologi dari Institut Joanna Briggs dan dilaporkan mengikut garis panduan Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Carian secara sistematik dilakukan melalui pangkalan data PubMed, Scopus dan Web of Science dengan menggunakan kata-kata kunci dan sinonim berkaitan wanita, kesihatan reproduktif, pendakian dan altitud tinggi. Kriteria inklusi merangkumi kajian yang membincangkan isu SRH dalam kalangan pendaki wanita. Sebanyak 15 kajian memenuhi kriteria ini. Isu yang dilaporkan dikategorikan kepada enam topik: gangguan kitaran haid dan ketidakseimbangan hormon; interaksi antara pemakanan dan kitaran haid; kehamilan di altitud tinggi; penggunaan kontraseptif; perkaitan antara haid dan penyakit gunung akut; serta cabaran-cabaran lain termasuk gangguan seksual dan halangan penyertaan berkaitan haid. Kebanyakan kajian adalah berskala kecil dan bersifat pemerhatian, dengan lebih separuh diterbitkan sebelum tahun 2005. Walaupun penyertaan wanita dalam aktiviti pendakian gunung semakin meningkat, masih terdapat jurang pengetahunan mengenai pemahaman terhadap kesan jangka pendek pendedahan kepada altitud tinggi terhadap SRH wanita. Ulasan skop ini menekankan keperluan penyelidikan khusus untuk menangani jurang pengetahuan ini dan membangunkan garis panduan berasaskan bukti untuk pendaki wanita. Penyertaan yang selamat dalam aktiviti di altitud tinggi membolehkan golongan wanita menikmati manfaat ini tanpa menjejaskan kesihatan seksual dan reproduktif mereka.
Kata Kunci : Altitud tinggi; kesihatan seksual dan reproduktif; pendaki wanita,

Correspondance Address
*Correspondence: drrose@ukm.edu.my


Flowchart of literature selection process

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