Is There A Role for Antioxidative Management in MaleInfertility Treatment?

The mechanism for male infertility, which contributes to half ofthe overall infertility, is generally acknowledged to imply medical,psychological and social concerns. Notwithstanding, suchpsycho/emotional stressful moments have not exclusively tobe addressed under the solitary perspective of the affected mensuffering from alterations on different levels of their sperms,but even more, the complex dimension for the couple has to beconsidered. Nowadays several causes for male infertility couldbe identified, reaching from endocrine disorders, inflammatoryor immunological factors, lifestyle together with exposure todifferent noxae, and environmental factors up to a plethora ofseveral genetic or epigenetic factors. Furthermore, along withmore accurate diagnostic techniques, in the last decade, sciencefocused on molecular and biochemical factors leading to maleinfertility. It has been shown that several of these factors areinterfering with male fertility due to the altered production ofseveral reactive species counteracting the male antioxidativecapacity on the other side. The focus of the newest scientific researchlies in a deeper understanding of the concept of oxidativestress and its modulation capacities. Several publications arereporting conflicting results, and even actual guidelines by theEuropean Association of Urology or the American UrologicalAssociation/American Society for Reproductive Medicineprobably do not reflect the newest scientific knowledge. Basedon existing research results some claimed therapeutic optionsmust be investigated carefully, whereas other positions mightbe revised.Apparently, antioxidative stewardship is of the utmost importanceand consists of strategies to optimize the selection, dosing,route of administration, duration and timing of antioxidativetherapy to maximize clinical cure in sub- or infertile men.Unfortunately, up to date, there are no well-performed RCT´sinvestigating the specific familiar environment and lifestyle ofthe infertile couple, nor the net benefits of any antioxidativetherapy prescribed to both partners in the long-term. It´s stillunclear if under such specific settings any AOX therapy mighteven increase the live-birth rate significantly.This presentation aims to impart knowledge to the attendingaudience about the latest research findings, the markers of oxidativestress and their assessments. The advantages and disadvantagesof any antioxidant therapy must be weighed, and itscorrect use must be discussed by stringent indications.