Sperm Stress and Male Infertility

Oxidative stress of sperm is a major cause of male infertility. Infertility affects more than 15% of couples globally with male factors contributing to 50% of the issue. As part of the routine evaluation of infertile men, the semen analysis (SA) assesses sperm concentration, motility and morphology, however, about 15% of infertile males have a normal SA. Therefore, the traditional SA cannot always predict male fertility potential and the potential success of assisted reproductive technology (ART), such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).

The SA may not fully reflect impaired sperm DNA integrity that severely impacts normal fertilization, embryo development and ART success. Sperm DNA is very vulnerable to oxidative stress that causes Sperm DNA Fragmentation (SDF) resulting in infertility, and poor embryo development.

Increased SDF is associated with conditions such as varicocele (testicular varicose vein), prostatitis, advanced male age, cancer, chronic illness (i.e. diabetes), radiation, exposure to environmental toxins and lifestyle factors (i.e. smoking, alcohol). Removing these risk factors can decrease SDF.

At The Y Factor, we will work with you to identify and correct these oxidative risk factors to significantly decrease SDF and improve the prospect of successful conception or ART. We can evaluate SDF status with specific advanced tests. Occasionally, we need to harvest better sperm from the testicles. Our experienced knowledgeable team will work closely with you to improve your reproductive health.

References

Agarwal, A., Majzoub, A., Baskaran, S., Panner Selvam, M. K., Cho, C. L., Henkel, R., Finelli, R., Leisegang, K., Sengupta, P., Barbarosie, C., Parekh, N., Alves, M. G., Ko, E., Arafa, M., Tadros, N., Ramasamy, R., Kavoussi, P., Ambar, R., Kuchakulla, M., Robert, K. A., … Shah, R. (2020). Sperm DNA Fragmentation: A New Guideline for Clinicians. The world journal of men’s health, 38(4), 412–471. doi:10.5534/wjmh.200128

Martinez, M., & Majzoub, A. (2021). Best laboratory practices and therapeutic interventions to reduce sperm DNA damage. Andrologia, 53(2), e13736. doi:10.1111/and.13736

Rashki Ghaleno, L., Alizadeh, A., Drevet, J. R., Shahverdi, A., & Valojerdi, M. R. (2021). Oxidation of Sperm DNA and Male Infertility. Antioxidants, 10(1), 97. MDPI AG. doi:10.3390/antiox10010097