Search resultsLifestyle factors and oxidative stress in female infertility: Is there an evidence base to support the linkage?
Title
Lifestyle factors and oxidative stress in female infertility: Is there an evidence base to support the linkage?
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2013
Authors
Journal
Expert Review of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume
8
Issue
6
Pagination
607 - 624
Date published
2013
ISBN
17474108 (ISSN)
Keywords
1,1 dichloro 2,2 bis(4 chlorophenyl)ethylene, adenosine triphosphate, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Antioxidants, assisted reproductive techniques, body mass, caffeine, cannabis smoking, chlorphenotane, cocaine dependence, disease association, Drug abuse, eating disorder, embryonal tissue, endometriosis, Environmental Exposure, Exercise, female infertility, female reproduction, fertilization in vitro, glutamate cysteine ligase, glutathione peroxidase, hexachlorobenzene, human, hydrocortisone, infertility, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, job stress, lifestyle, lifestyle factors, lifestyle modification, maternal obesity, mental stress, methyl paraben, nonhuman, occupational exposure, oocyte, ovary function, ovary polycystic disease, oxidative stress, polychlorinated biphenyl derivative, reactive oxygen metabolite, Reactive Oxygen Species, recurrent abortion, reproductive health, review, smoking habit, spontaneous abortion, superoxide dismutase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, underweight
Abstract
At present, between 10 to 15% of couples are infertile, and half of all infertility cases are credited to a female factor. Determination of the source of the problem may hold the key to improving fertility for women. Emerging research demonstrates that reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress (OS) have strong connections with female reproductive function; increases in OS which is associated with certain lifestyle factors can negatively impact female fertility. Lifestyle factors including being obese or underweight, exercising, cigarette smoking, alcohol and caffeine consumption, drug use, psychological stress and environmental and occupational exposures can all have adverse effects on fertility due to their complex interactions and impact exerted via OS on female reproductive processes. Our review highlights these linkages to explain their impact on female fertility, as well as provide suggestions to reduce OS and improve reproductive potential in women.