OXIDATIVE STRESS AND MALE INFERTILITY. PART II: ANTIOXIDANTS IN TREATMENT OF MALE INFERTILITY

In recent years many articles have showed, that reactive oxygen species are present in increased amounts in the semen of infertile men, causing sperm dysfunction, mainly due to peroxidation of cell membrane’s lipids and paternal DNA. Th us, it is presently considered that oxidative stress is one of the main causes of male infertility. Since at oxidative stress, natural antioxidant systems are not able to neutralize and remove excess of reactive oxygen species, it seems logical that amelioration of oxidative stress by taking exogenous antioxidants may lead to improve sperm function and potentially male fertility. Although there are many studies that have demonstrated a benefi cial eff ect of antioxidant administration to improve semen parameters or even increase in the pregnancy rates, it is still impossible to establish clear guidelines for the introduction of antioxidant therapy in routine treatment of male infertility. Th us, until now the treatment of male infertility with antioxidants stays an empirical one.