Cells 2022, 11, 1711. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11101711 www.mdpi.com/journal/cells
Review
Infertility in Men: Advances towards a Comprehensive and
Integrative Strategy for Precision Theranostics
Mourad Assidi
1,2
1
Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King Abdulaziz University,
P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; mourad.assidi@gmail.com; Tel.: +966-(012)-6402000 (ext. 69267)
2
Medical Laboratory Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University,
P.O. Box 80216, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Abstract: Male infertility is an increasing and serious medical concern, though the mechanism re-
mains poorly understood. Impaired male reproductive function affects approximately half of infer-
tile couples worldwide. Multiple factors related to the environment, genetics, age, and comorbidi-
ties have been associated with impaired sperm function. Present-day clinicians rely primarily on
standard semen analysis to diagnose male reproductive potential and develop treatment strategies.
To address sperm quality assessment bias and enhance analysis accuracy, the World Health Organ-
ization (WHO) has recommended standardized sperm testing; however, conventional diagnostic
and therapeutic options for male infertility, including physical examination and semen standard
analysis, remain ineffective in relieving the associated social burden. Instead, assisted reproductive
techniques are becoming the primary therapeutic approach. In the post-genomic era, multiomics
technologies that deeply interrogate the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and/or the epigenome,
even at single-cell level, besides the breakthroughs in robotic surgery, stem cell therapy, and big
data, offer promises towards solving semen quality deterioration and male factor infertility. This
review highlights the complex etiology of male infertility, especially the roles of lifestyle and envi-
ronmental factors, and discusses advanced technologies/methodologies used in characterizing its
pathophysiology. A comprehensive combination of these innovative approaches in a global and
multi-centric setting and fulfilling the suitable ethical consent could ensure optimal reproductive
and developmental outcomes. These combinatorial approaches should allow for the development
of diagnostic markers, molecular stratification classes, and personalized treatment strategies. Since
lifestyle choices and environmental factors influence male fertility, their integration in any compre-
hensive approach is required for safe, proactive, cost-effective, and noninvasive precision male in-
fertility theranostics that are affordable, accessible, and facilitate couples realizing their procreation
dream.
Keywords: male infertility; sperm; etiology; aging; biomarkers; lifestyle; multiomics; precision
theranostics
1. Introduction
Infertility has been defined as a reproductive disease that prevents a healthy woman
from conceiving after at least 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse [1].
Male infertility encompasses any health issue that impedes the likelihood of conception
and can be caused by abnormal sperm function or obstructions that prevent ejaculation.
Multiple factors, including illness, injury, chronic morbidity, and lifestyle choices, con-
tribute to its onset and progression [2]. Male fertility is largely determined in spermato-
genesis, the development of spermatozoa from spermatogonia in the testes. This meticu-
lous developmental process is marked by both mitotic and meiotic divisions, followed by
extensive morphological and biochemical differentiation, leading to a mature spermato-
zoan. Male infertility is attributed to abnormal spermatozoa parameters (spermatogenic
Citation: Assidi, M. Infertility in
Men: Advances towards a
Comprehensive and Integrative
Strategy for Precision Theranostics.
Cells 2022, 11, 1711. https://doi.org/
10.3390/cells11101711
Academic Editor: Alice Luddi
Received: 21 April 2022
Accepted: 20 May 2022
Published: 22 May 2022
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