Can lifestyle changes significantly improve male fertility: A narrative review?

Plain-language summary

This narrative review set out to explore how lifestyle choices affect male fertility, examining diet, exercise, stress, sleep, weight, and environmental exposures. It synthesized existing research on how these factors influence sperm production and quality through mechanisms like oxidative stress and hormonal changes. The review concluded that lifestyle changes can meaningfully improve male reproductive health, but noted the need for more rigorous studies to firm up specific recommendations.

Key findings

• Lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, and stress significantly impact male fertility.
• Oxidative stress, hormonal regulation, and DNA integrity are key mechanisms.
• Interventions like dietary changes and stress reduction can improve sperm quality.
• More research is needed to establish solid guidelines for improving male fertility.