Document Type
Article
Department
Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Surgery
Abstract
Objective: To compare stress markers and antioxidants in fertile and infertile males, and to explore their effects on reproductive hormones and fertility.
Methods: The cross-sectional case-control study was conducted from July 2017 to July 2018 at the Islamabad Clinic Serving Infertile Couples, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised male subjects aged 25-55 years. Infertile subjects were the cases, while healthy fertile males acted as the controls. Stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline and antioxidants glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analysed using SPSS 22.
Results: Of the 376 subjects, 241(64%) were cases and 135(36%) were controls. Median cortisol, adrenaline, superoxide dismutase and glutathione levels were significantly higher among the cases compared to te controls (p<0.05). Follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels were higher in cases compared to the controls (p=0.05). Mean testosterone level was higher among the controls than the cases (p<0.001). After adjusting for other covariates, every increase of 7 units in cortisol increased the prevalence of infertility by 3% (p=0.001). There was significant interaction between luteinizing hormone and testosterone in the final model (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Stress together with decrease in antioxidants was found to play a significant role in reducing the fertilising potential of male infertile subjects.
Publication (Name of Journal)
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association
Recommended Citation
Rehman, R.,
Amjad, S.,
Tariq, H.,
Zahid, N.,
Akhter, M.,
Ashraf, M.
(2020). Oxidative stress and male infertility: A cross sectional study. JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 70(3), 461-466.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_bbs/801