Abstract
Oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage, and apoptosis are associated with male infertility as a cause and as a manifestation. Several clinical conditions and laboratory findings may be indicative of the presence of oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage, and apoptosis. The use of standardized assays for the diagnosis of oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage, and apoptosis should be limited to cases where these conditions are suspected. The identifications of the causative factor for infertility will lead to a specific and subsequently more successful treatment option.
In this chapter, we provide a description of the clinical conditions associated with oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage, and apoptosis that lead to male infertility. The different signs and results of laboratory investigations will be provided to highlight manifestations of these conditions. We also describe the impact of oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage, and apoptosis on male fertility and the different approaches that could be used for diagnosis and prevention.