Unrevealing The Association Between Sperm Dna Fragmentation And Lifestyle Factors

Abstract

Male infertility makes up almost half of all cases of infertility globally, and its etiology involves a complicated interaction between behavioral, environmental, and genetic factors. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has emerged as a significant biomarker of male reproductive potential, with increasing attention given to its role in infertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. While traditional semen analysis focuses on parameters such as concentration, motility, and morphology, SDF provides insight into the genetic and structural integrity of spermatozoa. Numerous studies have investigated the relationship between lifestyle factors and SDF; however, findings remain inconsistent. This review synthesizes the current scientific literature on key lifestyle factors, such as age, smoking, alcohol, body mass index (BMI), nutrition, physical activity, and environmental exposures, and their association with SDF, highlighting both the established correlations and areas of uncertainty.