Human organoid systems in modeling reproductive tissue development, function, and disease.

This article reviews the current state of three-dimensional (3D) organoid culture systems modeling human female and male reproductive tract development, maintenance, and function. Organoids—stem cell-derived, self-organizing 3D cultures—have been established for key reproductive tissues including the ovary, fallopian tube, endometrium, cervix, prostate gland, testes, as well as for pre-implantation blastocysts and placental trophoblasts. These models recapitulate cellular hierarchies and physiological features more accurately than traditional 2D cultures or animal models, enabling studies of development, disease, and pharmacological testing. Despite advances, limitations remain such as lack of stromal and immune components, inverted tissue polarity, and reliance on undefined extracellular matrices like Matrigel; future directions include improving cellular complexity, incorporating microfluidic organ-on-chip technologies, and developing defined scaffolds. Overall, reproductive organoids represent promising platforms for advancing human reproductive biology research and personalized medicine.