From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility
Abstract Infertility has emerged as a significant global health concern, affecting nearby 8–12% of couples in reproductive age worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests a potential link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and infertility in both men and women. Some research indicate that HPV can infect...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-04-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02605-4 |
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| author | Omid Salahi Ardekani Arash Letafati Sepehr Ebrahimi Dehkordi Ali Vasheghani Farahani Mahshid Bahari Bahar Mahdavi Negar Ariamand Mahdie Taghvaei Moein Kohkalani Angila Ataei Pirkooh Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri Luciano Saso |
| author_facet | Omid Salahi Ardekani Arash Letafati Sepehr Ebrahimi Dehkordi Ali Vasheghani Farahani Mahshid Bahari Bahar Mahdavi Negar Ariamand Mahdie Taghvaei Moein Kohkalani Angila Ataei Pirkooh Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri Luciano Saso |
| author_sort | Omid Salahi Ardekani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Infertility has emerged as a significant global health concern, affecting nearby 8–12% of couples in reproductive age worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests a potential link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and infertility in both men and women. Some research indicate that HPV can infect various components of semen, potentially affecting sperm quality by decreasing motility, viability, and increasing DNA fragmentation, all of which may contribute to male infertility. The virus can attach to the equatorial region of the sperm head, enabling infected sperm to transmit the virus to the oocyte or placenta. Consequently, HPV potentially induces apoptosis in trophoblastic cells and disrupts their adhesion to endometrial cells, which raises the risk of miscarriage. HPV may also affect ovarian reserve by causing chronic inflammation, which can impair granulosa cell function and lower serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Besides, HPV-related immune responses also contribute to infertility by producing anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs), which cause sperm clumping, reduce motility through cervical mucus, activate the complement system that damages sperm in the female reproductive tract and interfere with sperm–egg interactions. Moreover, HPV infection has been linked to reduced success rates in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), potentially disrupting critical processes such as the acrosome reaction, sperm–oocyte interaction, and fusion. One potential mechanism through which HPV contributes to infertility is oxidative stress (OS). Triggered OS can negatively impact sperm quality and cause damage to the female reproductive system, ultimately contributing to infertility. Despite these associations, the precise mechanisms and the strength of the relationship remain uncertain. Thus, this review seeks to investigate the potential impact of HPV on infertility, particularly its effects on the reproductive system through OS. A clearer understanding of these processes could inform future health strategies for addressing HPV-related infertility. Graphical Abstract |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f4c7794de7cc40da82cdce6697eb183e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-f4c7794de7cc40da82cdce6697eb183e2025-08-20T02:10:49ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2025-04-0130113010.1186/s40001-025-02605-4From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertilityOmid Salahi Ardekani0Arash Letafati1Sepehr Ebrahimi Dehkordi2Ali Vasheghani Farahani3Mahshid Bahari4Bahar Mahdavi5Negar Ariamand6Mahdie Taghvaei7Moein Kohkalani8Angila Ataei Pirkooh9Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri10Luciano Saso11Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Virology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical SciencesResearch Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Physiology and Pharmacology “Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza UniversityAbstract Infertility has emerged as a significant global health concern, affecting nearby 8–12% of couples in reproductive age worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests a potential link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and infertility in both men and women. Some research indicate that HPV can infect various components of semen, potentially affecting sperm quality by decreasing motility, viability, and increasing DNA fragmentation, all of which may contribute to male infertility. The virus can attach to the equatorial region of the sperm head, enabling infected sperm to transmit the virus to the oocyte or placenta. Consequently, HPV potentially induces apoptosis in trophoblastic cells and disrupts their adhesion to endometrial cells, which raises the risk of miscarriage. HPV may also affect ovarian reserve by causing chronic inflammation, which can impair granulosa cell function and lower serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. Besides, HPV-related immune responses also contribute to infertility by producing anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs), which cause sperm clumping, reduce motility through cervical mucus, activate the complement system that damages sperm in the female reproductive tract and interfere with sperm–egg interactions. Moreover, HPV infection has been linked to reduced success rates in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), potentially disrupting critical processes such as the acrosome reaction, sperm–oocyte interaction, and fusion. One potential mechanism through which HPV contributes to infertility is oxidative stress (OS). Triggered OS can negatively impact sperm quality and cause damage to the female reproductive system, ultimately contributing to infertility. Despite these associations, the precise mechanisms and the strength of the relationship remain uncertain. Thus, this review seeks to investigate the potential impact of HPV on infertility, particularly its effects on the reproductive system through OS. A clearer understanding of these processes could inform future health strategies for addressing HPV-related infertility. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02605-4Human papillomavirusInflammationInfertilityOxidative stressReproductive healthReproductive tract infections |
| spellingShingle | Omid Salahi Ardekani Arash Letafati Sepehr Ebrahimi Dehkordi Ali Vasheghani Farahani Mahshid Bahari Bahar Mahdavi Negar Ariamand Mahdie Taghvaei Moein Kohkalani Angila Ataei Pirkooh Seyed Mohammad Jazayeri Luciano Saso From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility European Journal of Medical Research Human papillomavirus Inflammation Infertility Oxidative stress Reproductive health Reproductive tract infections |
| title | From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility |
| title_full | From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility |
| title_fullStr | From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility |
| title_full_unstemmed | From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility |
| title_short | From infection to infertility: a review of the role of human papillomavirus-induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility |
| title_sort | from infection to infertility a review of the role of human papillomavirus induced oxidative stress on reproductive health and infertility |
| topic | Human papillomavirus Inflammation Infertility Oxidative stress Reproductive health Reproductive tract infections |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-025-02605-4 |
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