Abstract：Psychological stress is a significant contributing factor for the decline in male sperm quality. In terms of the psychological mechanism, the decline of sperm quality due to psychological stress is associated with increased perceived stress and different coping strategies. External sources of stress can elevate stress perception, then affect sperm quality, while coping strategies may modulate the impact of stress perception on sperm quality. In terms of the physiological mechanism, psychological stress disrupts the normal functioning of the sympathoadrenal system, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to disturbances in the essential endocrine environment for sperm production. This review synthesizes the psychological and physiological mechanisms through which psychological stress influences male sperm quality, providing insights into the prevention and treatment of male infertility.
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