Male factor infertility affects 30%-50% of infertile couples worldwide, and there is an increasing interest in the optimal management of these patients. In studies comparing double and single intrauterine insemination (IUI), a trend towards higher pregnancy rates in couples with male factor infertility was observed. Therefore, we set out to perform a meta-analysis to examine the superiority of ...

OBJECTIVE To determine the distribution of low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) by main cause of infertility (female, combined, male, unexplained) in women seeking infertility treatment. DESIGN A case-control study. SETTING A Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Sweden. PARTICIPANTS All women (n=1293) born in Sweden in 1...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphism may be a risk factor for male infertility. However, the epidemiologic studies showed inconsistent results regarding MTHFR polymorphism and the risk of male infertility. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of published case-control studies to re-examine the controversy. METHODS Electronic searches of PubMed,...

Endocrine disruptors (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls [PCBs], dichlorodiphenyl-trichloroethane [DDT], dioxin, and some pesticides) are estrogen-like and anti-androgenic chemicals in the environment. They mimic natural hormones, inhibit the action of hormones, or alter the normal regulatory function of the endocrine system and have potential hazardous effects on male reproductive axis causing in...

Stress has been reported to be a causative factor for male infertility. Withania somnifera has been documented in Ayurveda and Unani medicine system for its stress-combating properties. However, limited scientific literature is available on this aspect of W. somnifera. We undertook the present study to understand the role of stress in male infertility, and to test the ability of W. somnifera to...

The beneficial effects of physical exercise on general health are well known; however, as exercise imposes great physical stress that challenges homeostasis, it can be detrimental to certain organs/systems of the body when it is exhaustively performed. Decreased seminal parameters and sex hormone levels have been reported in male athletes and, therefore, a possible impairment of male fertility ...

Azoospermia and/or severe oligozoospermia can be treated as principal factors of male infertility. Specifically, azoospermia that stands for 1% of males and 10% of infertile male population has been mostly unexplained (idiopathic), however, it is suspected for its genetic and/or molecular background.1 Pertaining to molecular background of severe oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) – the meioti...

Varicocele is often cited as the most common cause of male factor infertility. Arguments in support of this statement include reports of increased prevalence of varicocele in populations of infertile men compared with fertile or otherwise unselected men, association of varicocele with abnormal semen parameters, and improvements in semen parameters and/or pregnancy rates after varicocele repair....

BACKGROUND Previous research has suggested an interaction between distress and male fertility. The present longitudinal study sought to deliver evidence for a negative impact of distress due to infertility on sperm concentration. METHODS The sample consisted of 120 patients who twice visited an andrological clinic on their own initiative for fertility work-ups. Baseline and follow-up examinat...

It is estimated that the male factor contributes to half of the infertility in couples attending for assisted reproductive techniques (ART). Therefore the semen analysis remains the starting point to evaluate main causes of infertility and in case of oligospermic semen the assessment of sperm morphology may help to choose the best spermatozoon to use for the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IC...