There is a wide body of research on the effects on stress on fertility, with multiple findings on its negative effects on sperm. Now, a groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus provides a new perspective on stress: stressful events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may actually enhance sperm performance after the event has passed.
Published in Nature Communications, the authors of the study note how over the last five decades, there has been a notable decline in semen quality, coinciding with environmental stressors. Lead author Tracy L. Bale, PhD, emphasized that, since stress is a prevalent part of everyday life, it’s crucial to understand how it affects reproduction and development, and is essential for improving fertility.
The study’s key findings
The study “Stress increases sperm respiration and motility in mice and men”, identifies how stress affects the sperm’s ability to move through the female reproductive system to fertilize an egg. It provides new insight in understanding how stress impacts the reproductive process:
- Delayed response: The study reveals that stress-induced changes in the way sperm moves occur after a stressful event (2-3 months following perceived stress), and not during it, and actually improve sperm performance. This expands on previous studies revealing significant stress-associated changes in sperm RNA important for fertility.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs): EVs, small particles released from the male reproductive tract, play a role in sperm development and maturation. Researchers observed that changes in EVs occurred after the stressor had passed.
- Increased motility and mitochondrial respiration: Sperm motility and mitochondrial respiration, essential for energy production, were enhanced following stress-induced changes in EVs.
- Universal mechanism: The findings were consistent in both human and animal models, suggesting a potentially universal coping mechanism across species.
As the study’s lead author notes, “This timing, where sperm function improves after stress, might be evolutionary beneficial to increasing birth rates, particularly following challenging times like those experienced during the COVID pandemic”.
Implications for fertility and beyond
The findings of this study help fertility professionals further understand and address male infertility. By recognizing the way stress impacts sperm health, healthcare professionals can provide more nuanced advice and support to patients.
While the study primarily focused on male fertility, researchers also emphasized the importance of exploring how stress affects both partners in the reproductive process and how these differences impact fetal development, especially the brain. Researchers hope to gain a deeper understanding of how past stressors may affect future children.
In Conclusion
The findings of this study offer a new perspective on the relationship between stress and male fertility. By understanding that stress can have an array of effects on sperm health, healthcare professionals can provide more comprehensive and effective care to patients. As research in this area progresses, there is much potential for new insight on the complex interplay between stress, fertility and fetal development.
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