Male fertility is linked to good nutrition, general health, and environment. It starts with our DNA

Fertility rates have been declining over the past decades, a change that affects both women and men. Whilst most people are aware of treatments like IVF that are aimed at treating the mother-to-be, few know what help is available for men. Having a baby requires both partners: good quality eggs and sperm will give potential parents the best chance of conceiving. With the introduction of Progenyx to Ireland and the UK, a new, convenient and effective treatment is available in tablet form. Just one tablet a day in preparation for conception can make a life-enriching difference.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are present in the sperm and play a crucial role in 2 particular processes, namely sperm capacitation and acrosome activation. ROS is a term that describes metabolites derived from oxygen (abundant in our cells) in a highly reactive form. They are essential for various metabolic processes and can be beneficial or harmful if their balance is disturbed. Normally, levels of ROS are tightly regulated but it can be disrupted by lifestyle, poor diet, smoking, alcohol and environmental pollutants. If the levels rise this can lead to unwanted oxidation, known as oxidative stress. If there are too few the opposite state may arise: reductive stress. Reductive stress can be caused by the inappropriate use of direct antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E & K often found in commercially available multivitamins that indiscriminately eliminate ROS, irrespective of the cellular needs.

In healthy individuals, levels are kept within the normal range by a biochemical process known as the one-carbon cycle. It is activated in response to excessive ROS levels to restore balance and is inactivated once achieved. It relies upon a constant supply of certain metabolites usually provided by our diet or gut biome. The metabolites do not act directly, they are integral to the one-carbon cycle that regulates REDOX balance and have no direct antioxidative activity so do not induce reductive stress. Progenyx supplies nutrients to the one-carbon cycle that are used when needed. Progenyx helps you maintain your REDOX balance more naturally.

ROS are needed for sperm hyperactivation, capacitation and acrosome activity

The development and maturation of spermatozoa is mediated by endogenous ROS, crucial for proper fertilisation. This requires the input of a lot of energy derived from cellular metabolism. Sperm capacitation enables the sperm to bind with the egg and acrosome activation releases enzymes that permit entry into the egg itself so that it can combine with the egg nucleus to form the zygote.

Developing sperm discard most of their cytoplasm as they evolve into highly specialised entities. Ordinarily, the cytoplasm helps maintain REDOX balance so the sperm have to rely on optimal early development and support during maturation from the epididymal and seminal fluids.

Oxidative stress is the core mechanism in the majority of idiopathic (unknown causation) male sub-fertility

Whilst physiological levels of ROS are essential to mediate normal sperm functions, an excess can interfere with male reproductive processes. Environmental, dietary, habitual, occupational and recreational factors can elevate ROS concentrations including. Some of the more common factors are listed on this page.

Therapeutic goals of some commercial brands can be unclear; rather than improving your chances many may impair fertility.

Common risk factors

Smoking
Alcohol
Illicit Drugs
Steroid Misuse
Obesity
Insulin Resistance
Psychological Stress
Poor Diet
"over the counter" Antioxidants

Morphology of human sperm - 10,000 x smaller than a human egg

Commercial antioxidant brands can impair fertility if antioxidant capacity has not been correctly assessed beforehand

Many people are enticed by a lengthy ingredient list, especially if backed by persuasive marketing. Listing as many ingredients as possible can create a sense that one single product can correct fertility in all cases. Also, the products are readily available in the local pharmacy and on the supermarket shelf and many people just count up and compare the ingredients. Most commercial brands are loaded with direct antioxidants that may be appropriate for some men with a pronounced oxidative deficit but are inappropriate for many. Studies involving self-prescribed antioxidant brands have revealed an apparent paradox: the product chosen by many men to boost their fertility has the opposite effect and can impair their chances of having a baby.

The first rule in medicine is do no harm. For a given individual it may help, but not necessarily the majority. A better approach is to select a product designed to provide support only when needed without side effects (such as causing reductive stress); this provides a better practical. Progenyx underpins our physiological systems by providing some inert substrates and activated forms of others. If the cell needs one of the constituents, it is used appropriately; if they are unneeded they are simply excreted.

Oxidative and reductive balance are maintained or restored more naturally, allowing the sperm to form and mature under optimal conditions. Furthermore, the ingredients that underpin normal sperm development also help protect DNA in all other cells, including in the egg and as the embryo develops into a baby so the benefits can be far-reaching and long-lasting.

Male subfertility is a contributory factor in 50% of cases (Agarwal et al)

Progenyx can tip the balance in your favour

"Oxidative and reductive imbalances critically impact male reproduction, necessitating a balance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants for sperm health." (2)

Poor nutrition can affect your DNA

Helping you conceive is in our DNA