Varicocele can reduce male fertility potential through various oxidative stress mechanisms. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species may overwhelm the sperm's defenses against oxidative stress, damaging the sperm chromatin. Sperm DNA fragmentation, in the form of DNA strand breaks, is recognized as a consequence of the oxidative stress cascade and is commonly found in the ejaculates of men with varicocele and fertility issues. This paper reviews the current knowledge regarding the association between varicocele, oxidative stress, sperm DNA fragmentation, and male infertility, and examines the role of varicocele repair in alleviating oxidative-sperm DNA fragmentation in these patients. Additionally, we highlight areas for further research to address knowledge gaps relevant to clinical practice.
Keyphrases
- oxidative stress
- circulating tumor
- cell free
- dna damage
- single molecule
- healthcare
- ischemia reperfusion injury
- diabetic rats
- induced apoptosis
- clinical practice
- end stage renal disease
- reactive oxygen species
- chronic kidney disease
- primary care
- newly diagnosed
- type diabetes
- gene expression
- risk assessment
- genome wide
- transcription factor
- systematic review
- heat shock
- middle aged
- skeletal muscle
- climate change
- signaling pathway
- body mass index
- polycystic ovary syndrome
- patient reported outcomes
- childhood cancer
- human health
- quality improvement