[Updated esoteric causation of sperm oxidative stress]

The incidence of infertility is on the rise worldwide. Statistically, infertility affects approximately 15% of couples and 50% of males, which can be attributed to the decreased sperm quantity and quality and consequently male eugenesis induced by such esoteric factors as quickened pace of life, polluted environment, unhealthy behaviors, and so on. With the establishment and development of the free radical theory, active oxygen-mediated oxidative stress has been found to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. This review presents an overview of the esoteric factors responsible for sperm oxidative stress.