Narrative ReviewHuman2026
Redox-Genomic Crosstalk: Linking Oxidative Stress, Sperm DNA Fragmentation, and Epigenetics in Personalized Management of Male Infertility.
Plain-language summary
This review examined how oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage, and epigenetic changes interact to affect male fertility. It pulled together studies on men with infertility, looking at how these factors influence sperm function and assisted reproduction outcomes. The authors found that high oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation are linked to lower pregnancy and live birth rates, especially in IVF and similar treatments. They also noted that using sperm taken directly from the testicles might help in cases where ejaculated sperm shows high DNA damage, though long-term safety data is still limited.
Key findings
- Oxidative stress and sperm DNA fragmentation are linked to lower pregnancy and live birth rates in assisted reproduction.
- Using testicular sperm (taken directly from the testicle) may improve outcomes for men with high DNA damage in ejaculated sperm.
- Epigenetic changes in sperm may also play a role in fertility and offspring health, though more research is needed.
How to analyze the study yourself
- Study type
- Narrative reviews summarize existing research but do not systematically pool data or weigh study quality, so they provide a broad overview rather than definitive conclusions.
- Population
- The review focused on men with infertility, particularly those undergoing assisted reproductive treatments.
- Funding
- Not reported
- Watch for
- This review found that oxidative stress and sperm DNA damage may lower the chance of pregnancy in fertility treatments. If you are struggling with infertility and have high sperm DNA damage, it may be worth discussing the option of using testicular sperm with your fertility specialist.