Oxidative Stress in Human Reproduction

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 book provides an up-to-date review on the significance of ROS in human reproduction.

Dr. Agarwal is the Director of the Andrology Center and Reproductive Tissue Bank and the Director of Research at the American Center for Reproductive Medicine since 1993. He holds these positions at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he is a Professor at the Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. He has over 550 scientific papers and reviews in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Ashok has an h index of 78 on Scopus. He is currently an editor of 32 medical textbooks/manuals related to male infertility, ART, fertility preservation, DNA damage, and antioxidants. His current research interests include studies on molecular markers of oxidative stress, DNA integrity, and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of male and female reproduction.