The Action of Oil-Related Environmental Pollutants on Male Reproductive System

The low-weight aromatic hydrocarbons benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX), are among the most common hazardous sources of environmental contamination. The present review is the first summarization the data obtained during epidemiological, animals and cell culture studies concerning BTEX action on different aspects of male reproductiontesticular cell apoptosis, spermatogenesis, cytogenetics, pituitary and peripheral hormones and intracellular signaling systems. Analysis of the available literature demonstrates that BTEX can exert hazardous effects on various reproductive sites, including the pituitary-gonadal axis, hormone receptors and intracellular signaling molecules, testicular cell apoptosis, spermatogenesis and fertility. There are indications, that BTEX reproductive effects could be due to the ability of BTEX to affect embryonal gonads, to induce testicular cell mutagenesis and destroy chromosomes, to promote accumulation of free radicals, to affect hormones and hormonal receptors, cell cycle and CNS structures regulating reproduction, but only the role of free radicals in mediating BTEX action on male reproduction has been proven by experiments yet. Some approaches to prevent negative action of BTEX are outlined.

Endometriosis and Oxidative Stress. Do Reactive Oxygen Species Always Lead to Damages of Gametes and Embryos?

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many reproductive disorders, such as endometriosis on the one hand, but on the other hand they participate in different cellular proliferation processes, too. Endometriosis is an apoptotic endometrial, menstrual cells and lysed erythrocytes-induced inflammatory disease outside the uterine cavity, which activates macrophages leading to ROS production and oxidative stress. However, based on the available literature, the reproductive outcomes are still contradictory. In this study, the demographic, embryological and clinical results of 252 patients suffering from tubal infertility (control), ASRM I-II and III-IV endometriosis were analyzed. Endometriosis was associated with decreased anti-Müllerian hormone level and increased gonadotropin doses during stimulation (p<0.0001). In ASRM III-IV, reduced embryological parameters were observed, which resulted in 13.73% and 15.21% decrements in the implantation rates, 19.96% and 23.89% in the clinical pregnancy rates of patients suffering from ASRM III-IV endometriosis in comparison with control or ASRM I-II, respectively. In addition, miscarriage rates were 19.04%, 29.03% and 38.46% in control, ASRM I-II and ASRM III-IV, respectively. In our study, the supposed altered oxido-reduction environment of gametes and embryos obviously exerted negative effects on the embryological and clinical parameters, but these effects could not be observed in case of mild endometriosis with low level of stress.

Motherhood Plan: Has it Changed in Face of the COVID-19 Pandemics?

Background: The goal for the present study was to investigate whether women seeking fertility care have different perception concerning the impact of Covid-19 on the motherhood plan than a target population. Material and Methods: For this prospective study, a survey through onlineplatforms was conducted. Participants were randomized by age, in a 1:4 ratio, into: ART-GROUP (n=368), including patients seeking for Assisted Reproduction Treatment (ART), but still didn’t start their cycles or INTERESTED-GROUP (n=92), including participants interested in the subject, who accessed the website of a university-affiliated IVF-center. Information on their perceptions in face of the COVID-19 pandemics and the motherhood plan was collected. Results: When asked about the possibility of becoming pregnant, after the beginning of the pandemic, 47.8% of the ART-GROUP stated to believe the pandemic could affect their plans, while only 28.2% of the INTERESTEDGROUP stated the same. The plan to become pregnant was postponed by 41.3% of the ART-GROUP and by 60.8% of the INTERESTED-GROUP. The main reasons that led people to this decision were fear of getting sick, economic reasons and a pessimist view of the future. Conclusion: In conclusion, besides the fear of becoming sick, the economic burdens are the main reason for the delay in the motherhood plain.