Oxidative Stress: Relevance, Evaluation, and Management

Utility of Antioxidants in the Treatment of Male Infertility: Clinical Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review and Analysis of Evidence

“…Male infertility is a relatively common concern, contributing significantly to poor reproductive outcomes in couples. Oxidative stress has been increasingly identified as a common mechanism that mediates not only the pathophysiology, but also the many etiologies and risk factors associated with male infertility [ 1 2 5 6 ]. Within this context, there is increased use of antioxidants as a therapeutic option in male infertility, however, there remains no consensus on the efficacy, indications, dosage or length of treatment [ 8 9 10 11 ].…”

“…In addition, numerous environmental and lifestyle factors have been associated with poor reproductive outcomes in males [ 4 ]. Importantly, oxidative stress has been established as a significant mediator in many known causes and risk factors of male infertility, and has further been associated with 30% to 80% of IMI cases in a condition termed male oxidative stress infertility (MOSI) [ 2 5 ]. Therefore, the use of antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress across a range of etiologies and risk factors of male infertility has gained increasing attention.…”

“…Therefore, the use of antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress across a range of etiologies and risk factors of male infertility has gained increasing attention. This is supported by the wide availability of oral antioxidants, excellent safety and bioavailability profiles, and that antioxidants are considered relatively cost effective [ 5 6 ]. Therefore, there is a growing trend of prescribing antioxidants to all males with infertility, even without complete evaluation or relevant guidelines [ 7 ].…”

Association Study of Sperm DNA Integrity, Routine Semen Parameters and In Vitro Fertilization Clinical Outcome

“…Too much sperm DNA chain rupture will induce sperm cells apoptosis, which can be demonstrated in sperm morphology, sperm activate rate, sperm density and forward movement conditions. It is reported that the damage of sperm DNA integrity will also change sperm movement and sperm morphology [20,21] .Sperm motion device abnormal can also result in the decrease of sperm vitality, meanwhile, it will have direct effect on sperm nuclear DNA, causing spontaneous damage of sperm DNA, sperm DNA fragments rate to increase [22] . After the sperm goes through the cervical mucus, it touches eggs zona pellucida for fusion and complete the fertilization step.…”

Reply to Letter to the Editor by Derakhshan et al. (2021) ‘Vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of male factor infertility’

“…Local inflammation of the MRT is mostly caused either by varicocele or genital tract infections, leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species with subsequent oxidative stress (Agarwal et al., 2018; Leisegang & Henkel, 2020), which in turn damages spermatozoa and drastically reduces the sperm fertilising capability. It is best clinical practice that once infection and/or inflammation of the MGT has been identified to diagnose and treat its cause with a suitable antibiotic and/or anti‐inflammatories.…”