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Male fertility: psychiatric considerations
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. elise.hall@medportal.ca
Fertility and Sterility
|December 20, 2011
Summary
Stress and psychological factors may impact male fertility, affecting sperm quality and testosterone levels. More research is needed to confirm the links between mental health, medications, and male infertility.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Endocrinology
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Male Infertility Research
Background:
- Male factor infertility is a complex condition influenced by numerous factors.
- Understanding normal biological variations in seminal parameters is crucial.
- Psychological well-being and its impact on male reproductive health require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on normal seminal parameter variations.
- To assess the effects of stress and psychological factors on sperm quality in men.
- To examine the influence of mental illness and psychotropic medications on male fertility.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of English-language publications was conducted.
- Databases searched included Medline, Embase, and Psycinfo.
- Publications from 1970 to January 2011 were included.
Main Results:
- Stress can potentially reduce testosterone levels and impair spermatogenesis.
- The process of infertility assessment and treatment can induce distress, negatively impacting sperm samples.
- Existing research often lacks adequate control for confounding variables.
Conclusions:
- While some trends suggest a link, definitive conclusions are limited.
- Larger-scale studies with robust control of confounding variables are necessary.
- Further research is needed to clarify the relationship between stress, psychotropic agents, and male infertility.
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