Male infertility is linked to several environmental and mutagenic factors. Most of these factors, i.e., lifestyle, radiations, and chemical contaminations, work on the fundamental principles of physics, chemistry, and biology. Principally, it may induce oxidative stress (OS) and produce free radicals within the cells. The negative effect of OS may enhance the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in male reproductive organs and impair basic functions in a couple's fertility. Evidence suggests that infertile men have significantly increased ROS levels and a reduced antioxidant capacity compared with fertile men. Although, basic spermatic function and fertilizing capacity depend on a delicate balance between physiological activity of ROS and antioxidants to protect from cellular oxidative injury in sperm, that is essential to achieve pregnancy. The ideal oxidation-reduction (REDOX) equilibrium requires a maintenance of a range of ROS concentrations and modulation of antioxidants. For this reason, the chapter focuses on the effects of ROS in sperm functions and the current concepts regarding the benefits of medical management in men with diminished fertility and amelioration of the effect to improve sperm function. Also, this evidence-based study suggests an increasing rate of infertility that poses a global challenge for human health, urging the need of health care professionals to offer a correct diagnosis, comprehension of the process, and an individualized management of the patients.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology. 2022 Jan [Epub]
Jesus Fernando Solorzano Vazquez, Israel Maldonado Rosas, Lina Gabriela Villar Muñoz, Lilia Berenice Leyva Macias, Liliana Berenice Ramirez Dominguez, Kavindra Kumar Kesari, Emma Elizabeth Marsal Martinez, Eva Bonifacio Leon, Shubhadeep Roychoudhury
CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico. ., CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico., Department of Applied Physics Aalto University, Espoo, Finland., CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Puebla, Mexico., CITMER Reproductive Medicine, Monterrey, Mexico., Department of Life Science and Bioinformatics, Assam University, Silchar, India.