Effects of Psychological Stress on Human Semen Quality

Fenster, Laura; Katz, David F.; Wyrobek, Andrew J.; Pieper, Carl F.; Rempel, David; Oman, Doug; Swan, Shanna H.

doi:10.1016/s0022-5347(01)62460-1

Cited by 33 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This is in contradiction to Poland et al (1986) who observed better sperm quality after increased acute stress, and Fukuda et al (1996) and Zorn et al (2002) who observed lower sperm motility after strong acute stress. Although we analysed a larger population than Fenster et al (1997) with a comparable incidence (8.1% vs. 7.6%) of a death of a close family member as the criterion for acute stress, we were unable to find a difference in sperm motility in men with such a history in comparison with those without it, which is in disagreement with Fenster et al…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

“…Sperm quality is negatively affected by numerous environmental factors including psychological stress (Fenster et al, 1997;De Gennaro et al, 2003). Oligozoospermia may be associated with anxiety, depression and high reaction to stress (De Gennaro et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In sperm donors, students of medicine, semen quality was better in periods of examinations (Poland et al, 1986). On the other hand, acute stress (recent death of a close family member, earthquake or war) has been reported to affect sperm motility negatively (Fukuda et al, 1996;Fenster et al, 1997;Zorn et al, 2002). The male's reaction to chronic stress is also important: semen quality appears to be better when men have lower response to stress Pook et al, 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage

et al. 2008

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In this study we sought to evaluate whether psychological factors in males affect semen quality and pregnancy. In 1076 men of infertile couples, psychological factors, i.e. exposure to acute stress, coping with stress, the WHO (five) Well-Being Index and the Zung's Anxiety Scale Inventory scores were assessed by a questionnaire at the time of semen analysis. Relationships between psychological factors and semen quality (sperm concentration, rapid and progressive motility and normal morphology) were assessed. In 353 men with infertility duration of < or =1.5 years, sperm concentration > or =5 x 10(6) sperm/mL and a female partner with a laparoscopically confirmed tubal patency, we looked prospectively for relations between psychological factors and the occurrence of a natural pregnancy at a 6-month follow-up (n = 124), and first-trimester loss (n = 18). Anxiety trait, found in 19% of men, was related to previous in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection attempts (p = 0.014), cigarette intake (p = 0.006), alcohol intake (p = 0.026) and sexual difficulties (p < 0.001). Regression analyses indicated a significant positive relationship between the level of sperm concentration and the WHO (five) Well-Being Index score, each successive score number accounting for a 7.3% increase in sperm concentration (p = 0.039), whereas no correlation was found between psychological factors and sperm rapid progressive motility and normal morphology. Poorer coping with stress was related to the occurrence of a first-trimester miscarriage (p = 0.016) in the female partner. Possible depression in males is related to decreased sperm concentration, and poor coping with stress is associated with increased occurrence of early miscarriage.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 84%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage

et al. 2008

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“…Stress from a variety of stimuli exerts a profound suppression of the reproductive axis (Brann and Mahesh, 1991;Rivier and Rivest, 1991;Chrousos and Gold, 1992;Tilbrook et al, 2000). In males, decreased serum testosterone (T) is one of the first signs of stress (Fenster et al, 1997), and a sharp rise in serum glucocorticoid levels is viewed as a causative factor in the decline of steroidogenesis Monder et al, 1994b;Gao et al, 1996). Luteinizing hormone (LH), the main tropic stimulus of T production in Leydig cells, may be unchanged (Collu et al, 1979;Charpenet et al, 1981;Srivastava et al, 1993) or lower (Demura et al, 1989;Lopez-Calderon et al, 1991), depending on the duration of the stress being investigated.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid Glucocorticoid Mediation of Suppressed Testosterone Biosynthesis in Male Mice Subjected to Immobilization Stress

Dong

Salva

Sottas

et al. 2004

Journal of Andrology

123

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Physical and psychosocial stress challenge homeostasis, increasing glucocorticoid secretion (in rodents, corticosterone [CORT]) while decreasing testosterone (T) levels. The dynamics of stress-induced changes in T, CORT, and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations in mice have not been investigated previously. In particular, it remains to be established whether there is a rapid effect of CORT that is directly mediated by glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) in the testis. Therefore, serum and intratesticular T, serum CORT, and LH levels were measured during acute immobilization (IMO) stress, using the C57BL/6 strain of mice. The effects of testicular GR blockade were investigated by administration of the GR antagonist, RU486, via intratesticular (IT) or intraperitoneal (IP) injection. CORT levels increased in stressed males starting at 15 minutes, reaching a fivefold higher plateau by 1 hour compared with controls (P < .01). Conversely, starting from 30 minutes on, both serum and intratesticular T levels decreased in stressed males to 30% and 8% of control values, respectively, by 6 hours (P < .01). In contrast, LH was unchanged by IMO stress for up to 6 hours. Intratesticular treatment with RU486 partially prevented the IMO-induced decline in T levels. CORT treatment reduced intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content in Leydig cells by 15 minutes and T production by 30 minutes in vitro. We conclude that 1) the rapid changes in T suggest a suppression of T biosynthesis by glucocorticoid through a nongenomic mechanism, lowering the production of cytoplasmic cAMP; 2) changes in gonadotropic stimulation of Leydig cells are unlikely to explain the suppression of T levels during acute stress; and 3) the results are consistent with a direct inhibitory action of CORT on Leydig cells.

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“…The activation of the HPA axis in response to physical, psychological or immunological stressors results in a large number of adaptive responses, including suppression of neuroendocrine reproductive activity (13). In human males, this can result in lowered levels of testosterone and infertility (14). Exogenous glucocorticoids have also been shown to suppress gonadotrophin secretion in many species, including man (15), monkeys (16), cows (17), sheep (18), pigs (19) and rats (20).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

A Glucocorticoid Sensitive Biphasic Rhythm of Testosterone Secretion

Waite

Kershaw

Spiga

et al. 2009

J Neuroendocrinology

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Studies of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis have revealed a reciprocal relationship between these two endocrine pathways. In rats, for example, disruption of the HPT axis alters the circadian secretion of corticosterone. Stress, on the other hand, can have varying effects on testosterone secretion in both rats and humans. Furthermore, in contrast to humans, where several pulses of testosterone secretion can be detected across the 24-h period with the largest in the morning, rats appear to exhibit a diurnal rhythm of testosterone secretion. In the present study, we used an automated blood sampling system to investigate the true circadian pattern of testosterone secretion under basal conditions and investigated how this responds to changes in levels of circulating corticosteroids. Analysis of plasma testosterone revealed the expected bimodal pattern of basal testosterone secretion. The two secretory episodes were 12.59 h +/- 41 min apart and 4.04 h +/- 16 min long, with one in the light phase and the other in the dark phase of the cycle. Interestingly, when both testosterone and corticosterone diurnal profile were compared, we found that the circadian rise in plasma corticosterone levels falls neatly between the two testosterone secretory episodes. Treatment of rats with the synthetic glucocorticoid methylprednisolone in their drinking water abolished the normal bimodal profile of testosterone secretion. These rats show transient pulses of testosterone throughout the 24 h, but no circadian pattern. By contrast, adrenalectomised rats maintain their bimodal circadian pattern, suggesting that an intact HPA axis is not necessary for generation of the endogenous HPT rhythm. Thus, although the circadian rhythm of testosterone does not depend on normal HPA function, increased levels of glucocorticoids can abolish normal HPT rhythmicity.

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Effects of Psychological Stress on Human Semen Quality

Cited by 33 publications

References 36 publications

Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage

Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage

Rapid Glucocorticoid Mediation of Suppressed Testosterone Biosynthesis in Male Mice Subjected to Immobilization Stress

A Glucocorticoid Sensitive Biphasic Rhythm of Testosterone Secretion

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