ArticleAndrology2023
Perceived stress and semen quality.
Article in Andrology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.
- Associations Between Perceived Stress and Sperm DNA Methylation Among Men Attending a Fertility Center.Andrology · 2026Article
- Perceived stress in relation to testicular function markers among men attending a fertility center.Fertility and sterility · 2025Observational
- Perceived stress and semen quality.Andrology · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPsychological stress is prevalent among reproductive-aged men. Assessment of semen quality for epidemiological studies is challenging as data collection is expensive and cumbersome, and studies evaluating the effect of perceived stress on semen quality are inconsistent.
objectiveTo examine the association between perceived stress and semen quality. MATERIAL AND
methodsWe analyzed baseline data on 644 men (1,159 semen samples) from two prospective preconception cohort studies during 2015-2021: 592 in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO) and 52 in SnartForaeldre.dk (SF). At study entry, men aged ≥21 years (PRESTO) and ≥18 years (SF) trying to conceive without fertility treatment completed a questionnaire on reproductive and medical history, socio-demographics, lifestyle, and the 10-item version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; interquartile range [IQR] of scores: 0-40). After enrollment (median weeks: 2.1, IQR: 1.3-3.7), men were invited to perform in-home semen testing, twice with 7-10 days between tests, using the Trak Male Fertility Testing System. Semen quality was characterized by semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm count. We fit generalized estimating equation linear regression models to estimate the percent difference in mean log-transformed semen parameters by four PSS groups (<10, 10-14, 15-19, ≥20), adjusting for potential confounders.
resultsThe median PSS score and IQR was 15 (10-19), and 136 men (21.1%) had a PSS score ≥20. Comparing men with PSS scores ≥20 with <10, the adjusted percent difference was -2.7 (95% CI: -9.8; 5.0) for semen volume, 6.8 (95% CI: -10.9; 28.1) for sperm concentration, and 4.3 (95% CI: -13.8; 26.2) for total sperm count.
conclusionOur findings indicate that perceived stress is not materially associated with semen volume, sperm concentration, or total sperm count.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.