The Relationship between Seminal Fluid Hyperviscosity and Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction: Seminal fluid viscosity is a key parameter to achieve fertilization. Viscosity is more frequently increased in patients with infertility. However, the mechanism by which hyperviscosity causes infertility is still poorly understood. As an increased blood viscosity is associated with diseases caused by oxidative stress, it can be supposed that there is a relationship between seminal fluid viscosity and oxidative stress in male infertility. Therefore, this systematic review aims to investigate the relationship between hyperviscous seminal fluid and oxidative stress. Materials and methods: We performed a systematic search on the following databases Pubmed, MEDLINE, Cochrane, and Scopus from the earliest available date to 10 January 2021, using Medical Subjects Headings (MeSH) indexes and keywords searches. The study included all the articles that evaluated the relationship between increased seminal fluid viscosity and oxidative stress. Article reviews even though dealing with seminal fluid hyperviscosity were excluded. Results: 5 articles were included in this systematic review. The results demonstrated an important impairment of antioxidant systems and increased oxidative stress in patients with high seminal fluid viscosity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that a careful assessment of oxidative stress in patients with hyperviscosity may be very useful in clinical practice. Infertile patients with seminal fluid hyperviscosity could benefit from the treatment with antioxidants to protect sperm cells from oxidative damage and to improve their functional properties.

Impact of papain on the treatment of raw diluted dromedary semen

“…Barbagallo et al. (2021) hypothesize an association between men infertility, seminal fluid viscosity and oxidative stress. Sperm parameters are worsened by increased viscosity in human semen fluid (Elia et al., 2009).…”

“…A key component of fertilization in human is the seminal fluid's viscosity, whereas sperm motility, lipid peroxidation inhibition, surface charge distribution on the sperm membrane during maturation, and sperm chromatin integrity are all preserved by a normal viscosity (Layali et al, 2015). Barbagallo et al (2021) hypothesize an association between men infertility, seminal fluid viscosity and oxidative stress. Sperm parameters are worsened by increased viscosity in human semen fluid (Elia et al, 2009).…”

Determinación de la calidad seminal, daño al DNA espermático y su relación en la fecundación y desarrollo embrionario (día 2) en pacientes con problemas reproductivos

“…Otro parámetro importante de analizar es la viscosidad, si el líquido seminal se encuentra en los rangos normales, la migración de los espermatozoides hacia las trompas de Falopio es óptimo, se ha observado que se mantiene la movilidad espermática, la integridad de la cromatina, y se previene la lipoperoxidación y así como, mantener la integridad de la cromatina. En los pacientes con una patología de fertilidad, se observa un incremento en la viscosidad, que se asocia con astenozoospermia debido a que los espermatozoides se quedan agrupados por la alta viscosidad (Barbagallo, et al, 2021).…”