Stress linked to reduced male fertility

Past research has associated stress with a number of health problems, including heart disease, asthma, obesity and depression. Now, a new study suggests stress can reduce sperm and semen quality, which could have implications for male fertility. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, in around 40% of infertile couples the male partner is the sole cause or contributing cause of infertility. The main cause of male infertility is sperm abnormalities, including low sperm production or misshapen or immobile sperm. Medical conditions - such as undescended testicles or ejaculation problems - can lead to sperm abnormalities, as well as health and lifestyle factors. In this latest study - published in the journal Fertility and Sterility and led by researchers from Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health in New York, NY, and Rutgers School of Public Health in Piscataway, NJ - the team investigated whether stress may affect sperm and semen quality. Life stress 'led to lower semen quality'To reach their findings, the researchers assessed 193 men aged 38 to 49 between 2005 and 2008. All men were a part of the Study of the Environment and Reproduction at the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in Oakland, CA. Men who experienced two or more stressful life events in the past year had lower sperm quality than men who did not experience any stressful life events, according to researchers.As part of the study, the men were required to complete a series of tests that measured levels of stress, including that from the workplace, stressful life events and overall perceived stress. They were also required to provide semen samples. Using standard fertility testing methods, researchers from the University of California, Davis, analyzed semen concentration, and sperm shape (morphology) and movement (motility) in each sample. The researchers found that men who experienced two or more stressful life events in the past year had a lower percentage of sperm motility and a lower percentage of sperm of normal morphology, compared with men who did not experience any stressful life events. They note this finding remained even after accounting for other factors that may influence semen quality, such as age, other health problems and history of reproductive health problems. Although workplace stress did not directly affect semen quality in the men, the researchers found that those who experienced job strains had lower levels of the hormone testosterone in their semen, which could affect reproductive health. In addition, they found that regardless of the levels of stress experienced, men who were unemployed had lower semen quality than those who were employed. How can stress affect semen quality?Although the researchers are unable to pinpoint exactly how stress affects the quality of semen, they do present some theories. They say stress could activate the release of glucocorticoids - steroid hormones that affect the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins - which could reduce testosterone levels and sperm production. Furthermore, they say stress could trigger oxidative stress - physiological stress on the body caused by damage from unneutralized free radicals - which has been associated with semen quality and fertility. Commenting on the findings, first study author Teresa Janevic, PhD, an assistant professor at Rutgers School of Public Health, says: "Stress has long been identified as having an influence on health. Our research suggests that men's reproductive health may also be affected by their social environment." The researchers note that this is the first study to use subjective and objective measures of stress and, as a result, find links with reduced semen quality. In a recent spotlight feature, Medical News Today looked at whether infertility is primarily seen as woman's problem, and whether there needs to be more awareness surrounding male infertility. Article: 1st June 2014 www.medicalnewstoday.com

Women trying to get pregnant should reduce their stress levels

Women trying to get pregnant are often told, "You just to need relax and it'll happen on its own." And indeed, many of us have heard stories of couples who became pregnant as soon as they stopped "trying." Now, a new study suggests there might be something to that "just relax" advice, finding women with high levels of a key stress biomarker are more likely to suffer from infertility. The study looked at 501 healthy U.S. women between the ages of 18 and 40 who had just started trying to conceive; it followed them for 12 months or until they became pregnant. The researchers from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center tested the women's saliva and recorded their levels of cortisol, a hormone that's a well-known indicator of stress. They also measured their levels of alpha-amylase, a digestive enzyme also linked to stress. The women did one saliva test when they enrolled in the study and another after the start of their first menstrual cycle. The researchers found that cortisol levels were not linked to the women's likelihood of pregnancy. But women with the highest levels of alpha-amylase were 29 per cent less likely to get pregnant each month compared to women with low levels of this protein enzyme. They were also more than twice as likely to meet the definition of infertility, meaning no pregnancies despite 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. The full results appear online in the journal Human Reproduction. The researchers, led by Dr. Courtney Denning-Johnson Lynch, director of reproductive epidemiology at the medical centre, say this study corroborates an earlier study they did in the U.K. linking high levels of alpha-amylase to a reduced likelihood of pregnancy. "For the first time, we've shown that this effect is potentially clinically meaningful, as it's associated with a greater than two-fold increased risk of infertility among these women," Lynch said in a statement. The researchers say their findings should encourage women who are having difficulty conceiving to consider stress-reduction techniques such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness. However, Lynch notes that stress is not the only factor involved in a woman's ability to become pregnant, nor is it likely the most important factor. For that reason, she said couples should not jump to blame themselves or their lifestyles if they are experiencing fertility problems. Roughly 16 per cent or 1 in 6 couples in Canada experience infertility. This number has doubled since the 1980s. Around 30 per cent of cases are related to the men, who may have issues with their sperm; 40 per cent are related to the women; and 10 to 20 per cent are related to both, or the cause is unknown. A women's age is a key factor in her ability to conceive, as fertility decreases with age, particularly after 35. Article: 24th March www.ctvnews.ca Read more about boosting your fertility at www.prideangel.com