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Systemic oxidative stress could predict assisted reproductive technique outcome

  • Assisted Reproduction Technologies
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Previous studies have indicated that OxS (oxidative stress) may appear as a possible reason for poor ART outcome. Our aim was to study OxS levels in both partners of couples seeking Assisted reproduction Technology (ART).

Methods

Altogether 79 couples were recruited. Oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) and lipid peroxidation (8-EPI) were measured, and clinical background and ART outcomes were recorded.

Results

Both OxS markers accurately reflected clincal conditions with prominent negative effects attributable to genital tract infections, endometriosis, uterine myoma and smoking. Furthermore, the level of OxS was also affected by partner’s state of health. The highest 8-EPI levels were detected in both partners when biochemically detectable pregnancies did not develop into clinically detectable pregnancies (in women, 97,8 ± 16,7 vs 72.9 ± 22,9, p = 0.007; in men, 89.6 ± 20,4 vs 72,1 ± 22,6, p = 0.049).

Conclusions

To conclude, high grade systemix OxS in both partners may negatively affect the maintenance and outcome of pregnancy. Applying the detection of OxS in ART patients may select patients with higher success rate and/or those who require antioxidant therapy. This would lead to improvement of ART outcome as well as natural fertility.

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Acknowledgments

The present study was supported by Enterprise Estonia (Grant no. EU 30020), Estonian Ministry of Education and Research (Target Financing SF0180132s08, Institutional Research Funding IUT 20–42, Institutional Research Funding IUT 15–19 and Scientific Collection Financing KOGU-HUMB) and University of Tartu (Grant no. SARMBARENG).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Ravila 19, Tartu, 50411, Estonia

    A. Ahelik, R. Mändar & P. Korrovits

  2. Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Tartu, 50410, Estonia

    A. Ahelik, R. Mändar, P. Korrovits, K. Rosenstein & A. Salumets

  3. Andrology Center, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, 50406, Estonia

    P. Korrovits

  4. Nova Vita Clinic, Tallinn, 11316, Estonia

    P. Karits, E. Talving, K. Rosenstein & M. Jaagura

  5. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, 50411, Estonia

    T. Kullisaar

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  1. A. Ahelik
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Correspondence to R. Mändar.

Additional information

Capsule

High grade systemic oxidative stress in both partners affects negatively the maintenance of pregnancy, therefore its testing in ART patients may select the patients with higher success rate and/or those who need antioxidant therapy.

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Ahelik, A., Mändar, R., Korrovits, P. et al. Systemic oxidative stress could predict assisted reproductive technique outcome. J Assist Reprod Genet 32, 699–704 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0466-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-015-0466-6

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