Does stress effect male infertility? - A debate

In many cultures the social and familial issues regarding reproduction are of great importance. Hence it seems only logical to conclude that a couple failing to achieve the expected goal of reproduction will experience feelings of frustration and disappointment. The present review was aimed to sort out the relationship between psychological stress and male infertility. It remains unclear weather stress and infertility are closely related, or that other parameters that affect stress are the important predictors of fertility. The majority of the studies rejected the theory of stress as a lone factor in the etiology of infertility. However, there is growing evidence that stress stands as an additional risk factor for infertility. It seems by the emerging evidence that more intervention studies should be conducted in order to assess weather reducing stress during fertility treatments can alter fertility treatment results. Meanwhile, collecting data regarding the couples stress level seems an appropriate approach, especially since many couples feel that health care systems do little to ease the psychological burden they experience during treatment.