Ovulatory infertility is a serious clinical problem whose direct causes are still largely unknown. In addition to pathologies that make it impossible for a couple to establish a pregnancy, there are a number of other factors that have a bearing on fertility, including lifestyle factors, and particularly diet. Although numerous studies have been performed linking such factors to ovulatory infertility, most of them lack the necessary clinical significance, instead focusing on observational data and suggesting or establishing associative relationships. This article consists of a literature review focusing on connections between lifestyle factors such as diet, physical exercise, oxidative stress, sleep, and supplementation, and ovulatory infertility. Special emphasis was given to issues such as obesity and insulin resistance and their mutual relationship with other factors linked to ovulatory infertility. In addition, based on the conclusions of the literature review, the authors have proposed a classification of relationships between ovulation disorders and lifestyle factors in ovulatory infertility within the framework of the WHO classification of ovulation disorders. Furthermore, areas that merit further research have been indicated as well as those that do not. WHO Group II disorders gained prominence in the results of the study as the number of links with lifestyle factors and ovulatory infertility found in the course of the review greatly exceeded those for Groups I and III. The data presented in the article show that the issues of proper diet and physical exercise are those that could benefit from robust clinical studies focused specifically on ovulation infertility, while studies concerning the relationship between oxidative stress, sleep, and supplementation and ovulatory infertility do not seem to be promising directions as far as clinical significance is concerned.

Background: Male fertility is known to have been negatively influenced by the progress of civilization. Another condition whose incidence has been on the increase for the same reason is insulin resistance (IR). In addition, men increasingly often resign from the pursuit of active forms of leisure, preferring more sedentary ones. Considering these trends, this aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between lifestyle factors, insulin resistance, and male fertility in men with and without the condition. A further aim was to select those lifestyle factors that would make it possible to predict the level of male fertility, especially when IR is concerned. Methods: This study was performed in a group of 73 participants, divided into groups based on their insulin resistance status. Their physical activity, diet, perceived stress, sleep quality, libido level, and duration of sexual abstinence were assessed on the basis of a number of parameters, including indices proposed by the authors. In addition, relevant anthropometric measurements were taken and tests related to glucose metabolism and semen quality were carried out. On the basis of these data, statistical tests were performed to establish or disprove relationships between lifestyle choices and semen quality, as measured my sperm motility. Results: The results of this study highlighted the associations between a number of parameters, i.e., micronutrient and vitamin intake, diet quality, body composition, insulin resistance, and the duration of sexual abstinence, and semen quality, as measured by sperm motility. Significantly, the presence or absence of IR was linked to male fertility. A multivariate model was developed, incorporating parameters such as the Matsuda index, vitamin intake, and sexual abstinence duration, to predict motility scores. Conclusions: This study underscores the negative impact of modern civilization’s lifestyle choices on male fertility. Notably, vitamin and mineral consumption, especially from antioxidant-rich diets like the Mediterranean diet, emerged as key modifiable factors affecting fertility. Routine diagnostics for insulin resistance in fertility-related interventions is recommended. This study also highlights the importance of considering sexual abstinence duration during semen collection for accurate diagnostic results. Future research should focus on validating the proposed multivariate model and exploring the effects of lifestyle modifications, particularly vitamin supplementation, on fertility outcomes in men, especially in the context of IR.

Background/Objective: Infertility affects approximately 10–15% couples in industrialized countries. It has numerous causes, including genetic and environmental factors, lifestyle choices, and physiological disorders. The increasing prevalence of infertility underlines the importance of research into interventions to improve reproductive health, with a strong focus on physical activity. Infertility research was traditionally mainly directed toward female health. Although the male factor is being increasingly accepted as being equally important, this area remains under-researched. The current review focuses on the impact of physical activity on male fertility through its effects on immune function, the cardiovascular system, hormonal balance, metabolism, and physical interaction with the male reproductive system. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature review of studies addressing the effects of physical activity on male fertility was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and the Web of Science. Mostly recent studies were included, with a small number of older ones included in cases when their content remains relevant. The review focused on articles studying the processes involved and associations between physical activity and male fertility through immune and cardiovascular effects, endocrine modulation, the influence on obesity and insulin metabolism, and the physical impact on the body. Results: The findings revealed the existence of a fairly strong consensus that moderate physical activity enhances semen quality, hormonal balance, and metabolic health, positively influencing male fertility. Physical activity reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, enhances cardiovascular functioning, and contributes to oxygen and nutrient supply to the reproductive organs. On the contrary, strenuous training can adversely affect fertility, mostly through hormonal disruption and oxidative stress. It can also have various indirect effects on fertility through sports-related behavior and incidents, such as wearing tight-fitting clothes or overheating. Conclusions: Physical activity can affect male fertility in numerous ways, positively influencing reproductive health when performed at a moderate intensity. Understanding the balance between beneficial and excessive exercise as well as the impact of incidental factors related to performing sports regularly are, thus, extremely important in optimizing lifestyle-oriented interventions aimed at male fertility improvement.

Background/Objectives: Male infertility is a significant global health issue, comprising approx. 50% of all infertility cases. Semen cryopreservation, a critical component of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), is a method commonly used in a wide range of situations, including gonadotoxic treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy, hazardous occupational exposures, and various medical conditions. Although historically viewed as potentially damaging to sperm, recent findings suggest that cryopreservation, when performed with appropriate techniques, may in fact enhance semen quality by improving the proportion of healthy spermatozoa, particularly in terms of their morphological parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cryopreservation on sperm morphology and viability, utilizing advanced morphological assessments pre- and post-freezing. Methods: Semen samples were collected from 97 patients undergoing infertility treatment at the KRIOBANK clinic (Białystok, Poland). The semen was liquefied and prepared in the form of slides. Sperm morphology was then assessed using an OLYMPUS BX40 microscope at 60× magnification. Results: The findings of the study revealed significant improvements in sperm morphology, with increased percentages of normal sperm and reductions in deformation indices post-thaw. Conclusions: The findings indicate that optimized cryopreservation protocols may support the selection of higher-quality sperm, offering valuable benefits for ART applications. These results challenge certain past assumptions regarding the impact of cryopreservation and underscore the need for refined freezing techniques to maintain and potentially enhance semen quality for reproductive use.

Background/Objective: The aim of this study was to outline the relationships between selected parameters connected with lifestyle and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, i.e., a marker of ovarian reserve. By examining AMH levels in connection with nutrient intake and body composition parameters, this study aimed to provide a preliminary background for further studies focused on establishing dietary and lifestyle recommendations that could lead to improvements in fertility outcomes. Methods: The research involved 28 women, aged 26 to 42—both with and without ovulatory infertility—who were patients of the Reproductive Health Clinic at the Medical University of Białystok. The participants underwent a number of tests consisting of hormonal profiling, including AMH measurements, body composition analyses, and dietary assessments based on a 3-day food diary. Results: The findings of the study indicate that certain lifestyle factors are associated with changes in AMH levels. Most importantly, the multivariate linear regression model designed in the study shows that age, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), as well as the intake of sucrose, iodine, and erucic acid explain variations in serum AMH levels. These results support the hypothesis that modifiable lifestyle factors can influence AMH levels, and thus ovarian reserve. Conclusions: The study underscores the potential for targeted lifestyle interventions to support fertility and calls for further research in the form of prospective studies performed in larger groups of patients to substantiate these associations and inform fertility care strategies. Based on the preliminary results of this study, certain dietary ideas that could positively influence fertility have been proposed, focused on the normalization of body weight and the reduction in excess fat tissue.

This article evaluates the reliability and consistency of nutrition- and supplementation-related advice for pregnant women provided by ten selected health-related Internet portals. The portals were chosen based on their perceived reliability and prominence in Google searches, with representation from both English and Polish language sources. The evaluation criteria included the adherence of the presented information to official recommendations and its evidence-based character based on specific items representing dietary aspects important in pregnancy. While the overall reliability was deemed acceptable, significant variations existed both among the portals and specific evaluated items. Notably, HealthLine, Medline Plus, and NCEZ emerged as the most evidence-based, while WebMD and Medycyna Praktyczna were identified as less reliable. Despite a number of issues, the analysed portals remain valuable sources of nutritional information for pregnant women, offering user-friendly accessibility superior to alternatives such as social media on the one hand and scientific articles on the other. Improved consistency and attention to detail, especially in relation to vitamin intake and supplementation, would improve the overall quality of health portals.