Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are dynamic, nanoscale membrane-bound structures actively secreted by cells that are recognized for their pivotal role in intercellular communication and as circulating biomarkers for diagnosing and prognosticating diseases. These vesicles effectively transfer proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, modulating diverse physiological and pathological processes in both source and recipient cells. In the context of reproductive biology, EVs play multifaceted roles. They participate in numerous reproductive processes ranging from transcriptional and translational activity modulation to granulosa cell proliferation, cumulus expansion, gametogenesis, normal follicular growth, oocyte maturation, and fertilization rate regulation, ultimately influencing embryo development, blastocyst formation, implantation, and fertility outcomes. Additionally, EVs contribute to energy production via oxidative phosphorylation in the follicular fluid, facilitating ATP generation, which is crucial for proper oviductal cell function. They also engage in the thermogenesis pathway, which is instrumental in sperm thermotaxis for guided fertilization. Amniotic-derived EVs exhibit proinflammatory and procoagulant activities and have been successfully used to treat endometritis for enhanced pregnancy outcomes. Milk-derived EVs, especially long non-coding RNAs, participate in bone formation, immune modulation, and gene expression regulation. Cervical mucus-derived EVs possess sialidase activity, which aids spermatozoa in accessing the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes. Placental exosomes play a significant role in the management of infectious diseases during pregnancy, potentially enhancing the protective placental immune responses. Understanding the diverse functions of EVs in reproductive processes offers promising avenues for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating pregnancy-related diseases, and underscores their importance in physiological and pathological contexts. 

Highlights

• Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are essential for intercellular communication and are involved in various aspects of reproductive biology.
• EVs influence transcription, granulosa cell proliferation, cumulus expansion, gametogenesis, etc.