Targeting Modifiable Risks: Molecular Mechanisms and Population Burden of Lifestyle Factors on Male Genitourinary Health

TL;DR

This paper explores how lifestyle factors like smoking and poor sleep affect male reproductive health and suggests ways to prevent these issues.

Contribution

The paper systematically reviews five lifestyle factors as modifiable risks for male infertility and proposes evidence-based preventive strategies.

Findings

Lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol contribute to male reproductive dysfunction.

Environmental contaminants like microplastics are linked to suboptimal male genitourinary health.

Sedentary behavior and sleep disruption are significant risk factors for infertility.

Abstract

Health represents a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, with lifestyle factors accounting for approximately 60% of health determinants. Suboptimal health describes an intermediate condition between wellness and disease. According to 2023 WHO data, infertility affects approximately 17.5% of global adults, with male factors implicated in 30–50% of cases, establishing infertility as a critical public health challenge. Substantial preclinical and clinical evidence links suboptimal lifestyles to male reproductive dysfunction, positioning these behaviors as modifiable infertility risk factors encompassing environmental contaminants and lifestyle patterns. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on five key lifestyle determinants—tobacco, alcohol, microplastics, sedentariness, and sleep disruption—affecting male genitourinary health. Adopting an evidence-based medicine framework, we integrate epidemiological and experimental research to establish foundational knowledge for developing novel preventive strategies targeting male suboptimal health.

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