The Effect of Psychological Stress on Male Fertility Parameters: A Comparative Study Between Chronic Psychological Stress and Low-Stress
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46966/msjar.v7i2.410Keywords:
Psychological stress, Male infertility, Semen parameters, DNA fragmentationAbstract
Background: Chronic psychological stress is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for male reproductive dysfunction. It may disrupt the GnRH–gonadotrophin axis and induce oxidative stress, negatively affecting spermatogenesis. Purpose: This study examined the relationship between chronic psychological stress and semen quality, including standard semen parameters and selected fertility indicators. Methods: Between 2023 and 2025, a cross-sectional study was done on 80 men selected from 500 participants. Forty participants were classified as low-stress and forty as high-stress using a validated stress questionnaire. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO guidelines, assessing sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and semen volume. Reproductive hormones and sperm DNA integrity were also evaluated when applicable. Statistical analyses were used to determine associations between stress and fertility parameters. Results: Higher levels of chronic psychological stress were significantly associated with lower sperm concentration, reduced progressive motility, and increased abnormal sperm morphology. Stress scores showed an inverse relationship with testosterone levels and sperm function, suggesting impaired male reproductive capacity. Conclusion: Chronic psychological stress is strongly linked to reduced male fertility. These findings highlight the importance of psychological well-being in the evaluation and management of male infertility and suggest that stress-reduction strategies may improve reproductive outcomes.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Murtadha M. Jawad
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
In submitting the manuscript to the Medical Science Journal for Advance Research, the authors certify that:
- They are authorized by their co-authors to enter into these arrangements.
- The work described has not been formally published before, except in the form of an abstract or as part of a published lecture, review, thesis, or overlay journal.
- That it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere,
- The publication has been approved by the author(s) and by responsible authorities – tacitly or explicitly – of the institutes where the work has been carried out.
- They secure the right to reproduce any material that has already been published or copyrighted elsewhere.
- They agree to the following license and copyright agreement.
License and Copyright Agreement
Authors who publish with Medical Science Journal for Advance Research agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the Medical Science Journal for Advance Research right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors can enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the Medical Science Journal for Advance Research published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or edit it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) before and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
