Efficacy of antioxidant therapy in infertile men with sperm DNA fragmentation

Abstract

Introduction: Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples trying to conceive, and the male factor contributes to approximately half of these cases. Oxidative stress is one of the mediators of male infertility by causing sperm dysfunction.

Objective: To evaluate the sperm fragmentation index and the efficacy of antioxidant therapy in infertile men from Mayabeque.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study of longitudinal strategy was carried out, with measurement before and after, and a qualitative approach in 63 infertile men who attended the clinical genetics consultation of the Provincial Center of Medical Genetics of Mayabeque, from the year 2016 to October 2021. Underwent evolutionary monitoring of their sperm fragmentation indices before and after performing treatment with antioxidant therapy.

Results: 33.3% of the cases were 40 years of age or older, 60.4% were overweight/obese. 63.5% and 46.0% consumed drugs and alcoholic beverages, respectively. Antioxidant therapy was moderately effective in 40% of those exposed to gonadotoxic risk factors and highly effective in 50% of those not exposed. 50.5% of the couples achieved reproductive success after antioxidant therapy.

Conclusions: The use of antioxidant therapy in patients with sperm DNA fragmentation constitutes a treatment alternative to improve the reproductive health status of infertile men.