Associated factors with male infertility: a case control study

Causes of Infertility: Diagnosis and Management With Microfluidic Sperm Sorter

This case study refers to a three-and-a-half-year married couple who visited an infertility clinic and are facing infertility for two-and-a-half years. They started in vitro fertilization/assisted reproduction technology (IVF/ART) procedures from December 2021. In 2019, the couple underwent infertility therapy in Wardha, India, including three intra‐uterine insemination (IUI) treatments which failed. The couple was then recommended the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure in which the semen sample was separated using a microfluidic sperm sorter for separating good quality sperms. There was no past medical history of both of the partners. Since she was infertile, the desire to have a child was extremely strong. Sadness, helplessness, bewilderment, and frustration are all common feelings associated with infertility. The left fallopian tube delays spillage in females and oligoasthenozoospermia in males; women were detected with secondary infertility and male sperm samples were sorted using a microfluidic sperm sorter and fertilized frozen oocytes for ICSI. As the male partner, in this case, had oligoasthenozoospermia, he was prescribed multivitamins and other medications. After ICSI, the blastocyst formation was good with the use of a microfluidic sperm sorter.

The factors affecting male infertility: A systematic review

Background

In recent years, the incidence of male infertility has increased worldwide. It is necessary to study the factors that influence male infertility in each area/region for better management.

Objective

To determine the factors affecting male infertility in the Iranian male population.

Materials and Methods

An online search was conducted in electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, SID, and Scopus to identify articles on the factors associated with male infertility, published in English and Persian. The keywords used to perform the search included "factor", "epidemiology", "causes of infertility", and "male infertility". The search was conducted without a time restriction, up to April 2020.

Results

The search resulted in a total number of 691 studies. After an assessment of the articles, finally 14 studies were included in this study with a total number of 26,324 infertile males. The factors associated with male infertility included semen abnormalities, varicocele and testis disorder, smoking, exposure to heat, obesity, anabolic steroids, vascular abnormalities, anti-spermatogenesis factors, antidepressants, taking ranitidine and cimetidine, penile discharge and genital ulcers, painful micturition, occupational factors, alcohol, chronic disease, sexual disorder, Surgical and urological diseases, genetic factors and herpes infection. Among these, the semen and varicocele disorders were common in most studies.

Conclusion

The present review suggests that the factors affecting male infertility in Iran are similar to those reported from other countries. The results of this study can be used in adopting appropriate strategies for infertility management in Iran.

The Effect of Lycopene Supplementation on Mood Status and Quality of Life in Infertile Men: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Background

Infertility is a major worldwide problem which is caused by several factors such as environmental, physiological, and genetic conditions. Lycopene is considered to be one of the most important antioxidants that can contribute to reducing or preventing the psychological damage that leads to infertility. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lycopene supplementation on depression, anxiety and stress scales and quality of life in infertile men.

Materials and Methods

In this randomized clinical trial, 44 infertile men with oligozoospermia were randomly divided into the following two groups: the experimental group was supplemented with 25 mg lycopene, once per day for 12 weeks, and the control group received a placebo, for 12 weeks. Anthropometric and dietary data, physical activity, mood status, including depression, anxiety, stress, and quality of life scores were recorded pre- and post-intervention. Depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using a 21-item questionnaire (DASS-21) and quality of life was examined using the WHO 26-qustion questionnaire (WHOQOL).

Results

The baseline age and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly different between the two groups (age: 31.89 ± 2.51 and 32.15 ± 2.16 years old for intervention and placebo, respectively; P=0.732 and BMI: 27.20 ± 1.68 and 26.53 ± 1.53; for intervention and placebo, respectively; P=0.206). There were no significant differences in depression, anxiety and stress values between the two groups; however, depression score significantly decreased in both groups compared to the baseline levels (P=0.028 and P=0.031). No significant differences were observed in four domains of quality of life, except for psychological domain that was improved in the lycopene group compared to the baseline values (P=0.049).

Conclusion

Short term supplementation of lycopene had no effect on mood status and quality of life, except for psychological status in infertile men (Registration number: IRCT20171105037249N1).