Stefan S. du Plessis - Böcker

This unique text provides a comprehensive yet concise review of the various environmental factors and lifestyle choices which impact male fertility, with special emphasis on the mechanisms that contribute to decreased sperm production and impaired function. Internationally recognized scientists and clinicians, leaders in the field of infertility, gather their insights and discuss how to prevent, address and cure male infertility caused by factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, medication and drug use, obesity, dietary and exercise habits, sexually transmitted infections, psychological stress and occupational exposure to chemicals and radiation. Written in an easy to follow, informal yet scientific style, Male Infertility offers invaluable clinical guidelines for physicians and infertility experts and new data and research of great interest to basic scientists, andrologists and embryologists.

Providing a comprehensive review of the interactions between exercise and human reproduction, this unique text focuses on both the positive and negative consequences of sport and physical activity on male and female fertility and infertility and the biological mechanisms and processes behind them. Beginning with a review of the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems as well as fertilization and gestation, the discussion then turns to the physiology and endocrinology of sport and exercise, which is further elaborated in subsequent chapters on the impact of physical activity, hormonal changes, pathologies, and consequences of drug use for active men and women. Additional chapters address related topics, such as the impact of sport on young athletes and developing reproductive potential, physical activity and pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives in athletes, oxidative stress, and the impact of nutritional deficiencies on athletes’ fertility, with a final chapter providing recommendations and therapeutic guidelines for exercise-related reproductive disorders. Covering everything from  the fundamental principles of sports physiology and human reproductive potential to the interaction between physical exercise and the endocrinology of the reproductive system, Exercise and Human Reproduction is an authoritative resource for helping clinicians understand how the reproductive system adapts to activity and exercise and offers strategies to avoidpotential harm to human reproduction.

This unique text provides a comprehensive yet concise review of the various environmental factors and lifestyle choices which impact male fertility, with special emphasis on the mechanisms that contribute to decreased sperm production and impaired function. Internationally recognized scientists and clinicians, leaders in the field of infertility, gather their insights and discuss how to prevent, address and cure male infertility caused by factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, medication and drug use, obesity, dietary and exercise habits, sexually transmitted infections, psychological stress and occupational exposure to chemicals and radiation. Written in an easy to follow, informal yet scientific style, Male Infertility offers invaluable clinical guidelines for physicians and infertility experts and new data and research of great interest to basic scientists, andrologists and embryologists.

Providing a comprehensive review of the interactions between exercise and human reproduction, this unique text focuses on both the positive and negative consequences of sport and physical activity on male and female fertility and infertility and the biological mechanisms and processes behind them. Beginning with a review of the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems as well as fertilization and gestation, the discussion then turns to the physiology and endocrinology of sport and exercise, which is further elaborated in subsequent chapters on the impact of physical activity, hormonal changes, pathologies, and consequences of drug use for active men and women. Additional chapters address related topics, such as the impact of sport on young athletes and developing reproductive potential, physical activity and pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives in athletes, oxidative stress, and the impact of nutritional deficiencies on athletes’ fertility, with a final chapter providing recommendations and therapeutic guidelines for exercise-related reproductive disorders. Covering everything from  the fundamental principles of sports physiology and human reproductive potential to the interaction between physical exercise and the endocrinology of the reproductive system, Exercise and Human Reproduction is an authoritative resource for helping clinicians understand how the reproductive system adapts to activity and exercise and offers strategies to avoidpotential harm to human reproduction.

This book discusses the various antioxidants that are in use to overcome oxidative stress in an assisted reproduction setting. Antioxidant therapies may range from enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, either alone or in combination. While no one antioxidant regime has been identified as effective in improving fertilization and pregnancy rates, antioxidant supplementation has been shown to defend sperm cells from lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage to DNA, and thus improve pregnancy rates. The prevention of oxidative stress and its consequent damage is imperative to ensure a successful outcome of the in vitro fertilization procedure and embryo transfer. Strategies that could be employed to minimize or prevent the detrimental effects of OS during assisted reproduction include supplementation with various types of antioxidants.

This book discusses the role of oxidative stress in the reproductive system. The book reviews endogenous sources, methods of determining its levels in body fluid/tissues, the physiological roles of ROS, as well as its negative effects on the human reproductive processes. Also discussed are multiple extrinsic factors that could induce oxidative stress in the reproductive system. This volume covers various clinical pathologies related to the reproductive system that arise from or produce oxidative stress, both in the male and female. The use of antioxidants as a therapeutic measure to keep ROS levels in check are highlighted, describing the outcome of various clinical studies involving antioxidant supplementation in infertile patients. Infertility is a global disease that affects 15-25% of all couples, and oxidative stress arising from a multitude of sources has been implicated as one of the major contributing factors to the decline in human fertility. As such, this bookprovides an up-to-date review on the significance of ROS in human reproduction.