New Evidence in Male Infertility Diagnosis: The Role of Metabolomics

Abstract

Highlights: Unfortunately, male infertility is on the rise worldwide. Sperm quality may influence the outcome of pregnancy in couples. Hence, the identification of new biomarkers may have an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility. In this context, the omic techniques, particularly metabolomics, can contribute to the early diagnosis of male infertility. This new clinical approach may be considered to improve pregnancy outcomes. Male infertility affects a significant proportion of couples struggling to conceive and re-quire a comprehensive investigation into the underlying causes and potential diagnostic markers. Seminal biomarkers and multi-omic approaches, particularly metabolomics, have provided valuable insights into the alterations of molecular pathways associated with male infertility. This review systematically integrates literature, focusing on studies which examine the interaction between seminal biomarkers, metabolomics, and various omics technologies in the evaluation of sperm quality, and then male infertility. We high-light the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to decipher the complex etiology of male infertility and identify potential diagnostic markers.