DNA damage

Oxidative stress

Infertility

Capacitation

Population

Reactive oxygen species

Biology

Human fertilization

Spermatogenesis

Andrology

Male infertility

Sperm motility

Pregnancy

Fertility

Sperm

Cell biology

Genetics

Biochemistry

Motility

Medicine

Environmental health

Animal Bioscience

Male fertility is affected by multiple endogenous stressors, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), which greatly deteriorate the fertility. However, physiological levels of ROS are required by sperm for the proper accomplishment of different cellular functions including proliferation, maturation, capacitation, acrosomal reaction, and fertilization. Excessive ROS production creates an imbalance between ROS production and neutralization resulting in oxidative stress (OS). OS causes male infertility by impairing sperm functions including reduced motility, deoxyribonucleic acid damage, morphological defects, and enhanced apoptosis. Several in-vivo and in-vitro studies have reported improvement in quality-related parameters of sperm following the use of different natural and synthetic antioxidants. In this review, we focus on the causes of OS, ROS production sources, mechanisms responsible for sperm damage, and the role of antioxidants in preserving sperm fertility.

Role of antioxidants in fertility preservation of sperm — A narrative review