Psychosocial factors discriminate oligozoospermic from normozoospermic men

Goji Berry in the Diet of the Rabbit Buck: Effects on Semen Quality, Oxidative Status and Histological Features of the Reproductive Tract

Goji berry (GB) shows beneficial effects on human health, although its effects on the male rabbit have been little investigated. This study examines the impact of GB dietary supplementation on the semen traits, antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, and histological features of the reproductive tract of rabbit buck. Eighteen rabbits were distributed into two dietary groups: one receiving a commercial feed (Control), and the other a feed supplemented with 1% of GB (Goji). After a nutritional adaptation period of 60 days, the animals were subjected to semen collection every 15 days. The semen traits, libido, antioxidant, and inflammatory parameters were collected and analyzed. The rabbits were sacrificed after 60 days, and tissues of the genital tract were analyzed. Compared to the Control group, the Goji group showed higher spermatozoa concentration, motility, and vitality (p < 0.05), as well as fewer abnormal spermatozoa and a higher libido (p < 0.1). Histological features such as functional activity and hyperplasia were improved by GB and correlated with some semen traits (p < 0.05). Conversely, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory parameters were unaffected by the diet. These findings suggest that GB acts on the tissues of the reproductive tract positively influencing semen quality, although further studies are needed to understand the effect on oxidative stress.

New Insights on Sperm Function in Male Infertility of Unknown Origin: A Multimodal Approach

The global trend of rising (male) infertility is concerning, and the unidentifiable causes in half of the cases, the so-called unknown origin male infertility (UOMI), demands a better understanding and assessment of both external/internal factors and mechanisms potentially involved. In this work, it was our aim to obtain new insight on UOMI, specifically on idiopathic (ID) and Unexplained male infertility (UMI), relying on a detailed evaluation of the male gamete, including functional, metabolic and proteomic aspects. For this purpose, 1114 semen samples, from males in couples seeking infertility treatment, were collected at the Reproductive Medicine Unit from the Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), from July 2018-July 2022. Based on the couples' clinical data, seminal/hormonal analysis, and strict eligibility criteria, samples were categorized in 3 groups, control (CTRL), ID and UMI. Lifestyle factors and anxiety/depression symptoms were assessed via survey. Sperm samples were evaluated functionally, mitochondrially and using proteomics. The results of Assisted Reproduction Techniques were assessed whenever available. According to our results, ID patients presented the worst sperm functional profile, while UMI patients were similar to controls. The proteomic analysis revealed 145 differentially expressed proteins, 8 of which were specifically altered in ID and UMI samples. Acrosin (ACRO) and sperm acrosome membrane-associated protein 4 (SACA4) were downregulated in ID patients while laminin subunit beta-2 (LAMB2), mannose 6-phosphate isomerase (MPI), ATP-dependent 6-phosphofructokinase liver type (PFKAL), STAR domain-containing protein 10 (STA10), serotransferrin (TRFE) and exportin-2 (XPO2) were downregulated in UMI patients. Using random forest analysis, SACA4 and LAMB2 were identified as the sperm proteins with a higher chance of distinguishing ID and UMI patients, and their function and expression variation were in accordance with the functional results. No alterations were observed in terms of lifestyle and psychological factors among the 3 groups. These findings obtained in an experimental setting based on 3 well-defined groups of subjects, might help to validate new biomarkers for unknown origin male infertility (ID and UMI) that, in the future, can be used to improve diagnostics and treatments.

Effects of BabyDance Lubricant on Sperm Parameters

Background

Semen analysis is a common test conducted for diagnosing the cause of male infertility, so using an innocuous lubricant can be beneficial to reduce the semen collection difficulties.

Aims

In this study, the effects of BabyDance™ lubricant gel, a paraben-free lubricant, on sperm parameters were investigated.

Study Setting and Design

It was a prospective study and a total of 45 individuals were enrolled.

Materials and Methods

First, the semen samples of 20 patients referred to Royan Research Institute were incubated with different concentrations of gel, and subsequently, the sperm motility and vitality were evaluated. In the second phase, 25 individuals who had a spermogram test were asked to apply the gel in the new semen examination.

Statistical Analysis

Obtained data were statistically analysed using SPSS software.

Results

The results of the in vitro phase revealed that this gel does not affect the pH, sample colour, viability, total motility and progressive and non-progressive motility of spermatozoa at any concentration. The second phase results also represented no difference in spermatozoal characteristics with and without gel use. Moreover, 100% of the participants in the second phase were satisfied with the gel and recommended that to other patients.

Conclusion

It was concluded that this gel can be considered a harmless product to sperm and can be a beneficial option for clients referring to infertility centres that facilitate the semen collection process.

Importance of Personality Factors in Determining the Psychological Consequences of Infertility: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The diagnosis of infertility not only involves biological but the psychosocial links have also been established. Individual difference variables, such as personality and temperament have been found playing prominent role in modifying the psychological and biological aspects of infertility. This systematic review aimed to examine evidence-based research on the role of personality traits in determining vulnerability to stress in infertility, understand the gender-based differences, and deliver suggestions for future researches.

METHOD

The search for studies relating to the variables was accomplished using various electronic databases. The search was kept limited to a time span of about 20 years, that is, from January 2000 to April 2020. Additional researches were collected from library source and others were retrieved by contacting experts. Studies were selected on the basis of a predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality of the studies was also taken into account.

RESULTS

The search of studies through above methods was fruitful in identifying 23 studies including six longitudinal and prospective studies, and 17 cross-sectional studies covering both individual- and model-based personality attributes related findings. The overall quality ratings of the studies ranged from fair to good.

CONCLUSION

The review revealed that personality factors such as neuroticism, harm avoidance, and psychoticism are the potential risk factors, whereas optimism has a protective impact in the context of fertility disorders. The long-term impact of personality on infertility needs further exploration. Trait modification interventions during the treatment of infertility were also suggested in the light of previous findings.

PROTAMINE1 and PROTAMINE2 genes expression in the sperms of oligoasthenospermic individuals and intrauterine insemination candidates couples: Is there any significant differences?

Background:

Male infertility refers to a male's inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female. It seems the large portion of this category of infertility, has roots in genetic factors. PROTAMINE family is one of the most important genes which are involved in male factor infertility. Hence, the aim of this study is to evaluate PROTAMINE1 and PROTAMINE2 (P1 and P2) genes expression in oligoasthenospermic individuals and intrauterine insemination (IUI) candidate couples’ sperms.

Materials and Methods:

Samples were gathered from the patients referred to the Isfahan Infertility Center of Shahid Beheshti, 80 semen samples were in IUI candidates groups and 16 semen samples were in oligoasthenospermia group was collected. The outcome of IUI procedure was followed up after 14 days. Through these samples, 16 couples achieved pregnancy (IUI⁺) and from the top of the list, 16 semen samples with negative β-HCG were obtained (IUI⁻). After RNA extraction from sperms, PROTAMINE genes family expression was evaluated in our three groups by real time-reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Our study revealed that P1 gene expression has no significant differences between IUI⁻, IUI⁺, and oligoasthenospermia groups, whereas P2 gene expression showed significant differences between oligoasthenospermia with two IUI groups. Main sperm parameters have no significant differences between IUI groups.

Conclusion:

This study reveals P1 and P2 genes expression value have no significant differences between IUI⁻ and IUI⁺. On the other hand, P2 gene expression value has significant differences between oligoasthenospermia with two IUI groups.

Association of state and trait anxiety to semen quality of in vitro fertilization patients: a controlled study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between semen quality and state/trait anxiety in patients enrolled in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program and in control subjects.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Biology, European Hospital, Rome.

PATIENT(S)

Ninety-four first-attempt IVF patients and 85 age-matched, random subjects recruited in the period July 2006 through March 2008.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Behavioral features of stress, including state and trait anxiety, self-perceived impact of physical disturbance on everyday activities, ethanol consumption, cigarette smoking, and semen parameters such as semen volume, sperm concentration, total count, motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation.

RESULT(S)

Increased levels of both state and trait anxiety were associated with lower semen volume, sperm concentration and count, reduced sperm motility, and increased sperm DNA fragmentation of IVF patients, thus influencing seminal parameters at the macroscopic and cellular/subcellular levels. Similar results were obtained in the controls.

CONCLUSION(S)

Our data confirm previous observations with state anxiety and show that trait anxiety also is negatively associated with male fertility.

Effect of an isotonic lubricant on sperm collection and sperm quality

OBJECTIVE

To assess the influence of an isotonic lubricant used during sperm sample collection on [1] ease of collection and [2] resultant sperm quality.

DESIGN

Paired randomized cross-over design.

SETTING

Tertiary hospital.

DONOR(S)

Healthy men over 18 years old with normal semen analysis as per World Health Organization 2010 guidelines.

INTERVENTION(S)

Collection of semen sample from 22 subjects by masturbation with or without the use of Pre-Seed personal lubricant.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Qualitative survey results and quantitative sperm function outcomes were measured to determine resultant sperm quality and collection experience with and without Pre-Seed lubricant.

RESULT(S)

The qualitative questionnaire results showed that 73% of donors prefer the semen collection process with the isotonic lubricant and 55% recommended the use of lubricant in their everyday collection. The motility, viability, membrane integrity, levels of reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and percentage of DNA damage in collected semen samples were not affected by the use of the lubricant.

CONCLUSION(S)

More donors prefer, and find it easier, to collect semen samples with the use of the lubricant. The isotonic lubricant Pre-Seed did not compromise sperm quality as evaluated in an array of sperm assays, suggesting its safe use in fertility patients as required during sperm collection.

Male infertility and its causes in human

Infertility is one of the most serious social problems facing advanced nations. In general, approximate half of all cases of infertility are caused by factors related to the male partner. To date, various treatments have been developed for male infertility and are steadily producing results. However, there is no effective treatment for patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, in which there is an absence of mature sperm in the testes. Although evidence suggests that many patients with male infertility have a genetic predisposition to the condition, the cause has not been elucidated in the vast majority of cases. This paper discusses the environmental factors considered likely to be involved in male infertility and the genes that have been clearly shown to be involved in male infertility in humans, including our recent findings.

Current concepts of human azoospermia and its causes

Infertility is a serious social problem in advanced nations today. One of the most important causes is the male factor. Striking progress has been achieved in recent years in elucidating the mechanisms of spermatogenesis in mice by experimental methods represented by the knockout mouse. Although many factors associated with male infertility are known in mice, the translation of this information to people has been slow. This is because the knockout mouse phenotype cannot necessarily be reproduced faithfully in humans. However, it is known that environmental factors, chromosomal defects and several specific gene mutations result in human male infertility. In this review, we first discuss the environmental factors considered likely to be involved in male infertility, and secondly we describe the Y chromosome and several important genes on the Y chromosome that play critical roles in spermatogenesis in humans. Then, we demonstrate the three critical genes identified in our laboratory in autosomes involved in human spermatogenesis, the SYCP3, MEI1 and PARP-2. Finally, we explain the future directionality and possibilities of research in this field.

Sexual, marital, and social impact of a man's perceived infertility diagnosis

INTRODUCTION

Male factor infertility is a relatively common problem. This diagnosis may increase sexual, marital, and relationship strain in male partners of infertile couples.

AIM

To measure the personal, social, sexual, and marital impacts of a male factor infertility diagnosis among men in couples evaluated for infertility.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis of 357 men in infertile couples from eight academic and community-based fertility clinics. Participants completed written surveys and face-to-face and telephone interviews at study enrollment. This interview queried each participant's perception of their infertility etiology to determine the primary study exposure (i.e., male factor only, male and female factors, female factor only, unknown).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Personal Impact, Social Impact, Marital Impact, and Sexual Impact scales.

RESULTS

Among the 357 men, no male factor was reported in 47%, isolated male factor was present in 12%, combined male and female factors were present in 16%, and unexplained infertility was present in 25% of couples. Male factor infertility was independently associated with worse Sexual (mean 39 vs. 30, standard deviation [SD] 2.7, P = 0.004) and Personal (mean 37 vs. 29, SD 3.8, P = 0.04) Impact scores relative to men in couples without male factor infertility. These differences remained statistically significant after controlling for male age, partner age, race, religion, educational level, employment status, prior pregnancy, duration of infertility, and prior paternity.

CONCLUSIONS

Male partners in couples who perceive isolated male factor infertility have a lower sexual and personal quality of life compared with male partners of couples without perceived male factor infertility. Social strain is highest among couples without a clear etiology for infertility. These findings highlight the clinically significant negative sexual, personal, and social strains of a perceived infertility diagnosis for men.

Psychological factors in male partners of infertile couples: relationship with semen quality and early miscarriage

In this study we sought to evaluate whether psychological factors in males affect semen quality and pregnancy. In 1076 men of infertile couples, psychological factors, i.e. exposure to acute stress, coping with stress, the WHO (five) Well-Being Index and the Zung's Anxiety Scale Inventory scores were assessed by a questionnaire at the time of semen analysis. Relationships between psychological factors and semen quality (sperm concentration, rapid and progressive motility and normal morphology) were assessed. In 353 men with infertility duration of < or =1.5 years, sperm concentration > or =5 x 10(6) sperm/mL and a female partner with a laparoscopically confirmed tubal patency, we looked prospectively for relations between psychological factors and the occurrence of a natural pregnancy at a 6-month follow-up (n = 124), and first-trimester loss (n = 18). Anxiety trait, found in 19% of men, was related to previous in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection attempts (p = 0.014), cigarette intake (p = 0.006), alcohol intake (p = 0.026) and sexual difficulties (p < 0.001). Regression analyses indicated a significant positive relationship between the level of sperm concentration and the WHO (five) Well-Being Index score, each successive score number accounting for a 7.3% increase in sperm concentration (p = 0.039), whereas no correlation was found between psychological factors and sperm rapid progressive motility and normal morphology. Poorer coping with stress was related to the occurrence of a first-trimester miscarriage (p = 0.016) in the female partner. Possible depression in males is related to decreased sperm concentration, and poor coping with stress is associated with increased occurrence of early miscarriage.

Infertility and psychiatric morbidity

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationship between psychiatric disorders and infertility.

DESIGN

Case-control study.

SETTING

Fertile and infertile volunteer couples in an academic research setting.

PATIENT(S)

Eighty-one infertile couples recruited from an infertility center before fertility treatment and 70 fertile controls recruited from an obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

INTERVENTION(S)

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The presence of Axis 1 psychiatric disorders.

RESULT(S)

The occurrence of current psychiatric disorders was significantly higher among infertile subjects than among fertile controls, especially for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood (16% vs. 2%) and for binge eating disorder (8% vs. 0).

CONCLUSION(S)

Our data highlight that a percentage of infertile patients have already developed a psychiatric disorder at the time of their first contact with a specialized fertility service. Possible applications are discussed, including the recommendation that gynecologists screen for clinical or subclinical psychiatric disorders in infertility patients and offer treatment accordingly.

Alexithymia and 7.5-year incidence of compensated low back pain in 1207 urban public transit operators

OBJECTIVE

Alexithymia, a lack of emotional awareness, was positively associated with self-reported low back pain (LBP) in cross-sectional studies. We assessed the association of alexithymia with 7.5-year incidence of LBP prospectively in a cohort study of 1207 San Francisco transit operators.

METHODS

Alexithymia was measured by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). LBP was assessed by physician-confirmed diagnoses from administrative workers' compensation data. Cox proportional hazards analyses controlled for demographic, behavioral, and physical and psychosocial job factors measured by questionnaire and interview.

RESULTS

Of all drivers, 27.7% (n=334) filed compensated claims for LBP injuries with workers' compensation insurance during the 7.5-year observation time. The hazard ratios from the fully adjusted model were 0.73 (0.56-0.96) for the TAS-20 scale and 0.82 (0.69-0.98) for the subscale "difficulty describing feelings." Alexithymia scores did not predict the duration of compensated work disability.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to previous cross-sectional positive associations between alexithymia and LBP, alexithymia is negatively associated with compensated LBP claims. We hypothesize that shame and reporting behavior may explain these inconsistent results.

Are difficulties perceiving and expressing emotions associated with low-back pain? The relationship between lack of emotional awareness (alexithymia) and 12-month prevalence of low-back pain in 1180 urban public transit operators

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of alexithymia (deficit in emotional awareness) with 12-month prevalence of low back pain (LBP) cross-sectionally in a cohort study of 1180 San Francisco transit operators.

METHODS

Alexithymia was measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). LBP was assessed in medical histories during drivers relicensing exams. Multivariate logistic regression analyses controlled for demographic, behavioral (smoking, alcohol, coping style), and physical and psychosocial job factors measured by questionnaire and interview.

RESULTS

Of all the drivers, 31.4% suffered from LBP. Scoring in the upper quartile of alexithymia summary scores was associated with twofold higher odds of LBP (adjusted odds ratio=2.00, 95% confidence interval: 1.31-3.00). The association was stronger in women (adj. OR=4.35) than in men (adj. OR=1.83). The factor "difficulty identifying feelings" showed the strongest association with LBP (adj. OR=2.23).

CONCLUSION

The results support an association between alexithymia and LBP.