Sperm activity affected by endometriosis

Endometriosis-associated infertility is regulated via extracellular vesicles, with a direct effect on sperm activity, according to data published in the Journal of Cellular Physiology. Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition whereby the endometrium proliferates outside of the uterus, leading to pain and infertility. The pathogenesis of endometriosis-associated infertility is multifactorial, including changes in the reproductive tract microenvironment that promote the inflammation and adhesions, which can lead to ovulatory disorders and impair endometrial receptivity. Some studies have also suggested that extracellular vesicles affect disease pathophysiology via regulation of the biological functions of inflammatory cells, thereby modulating inflammation, angiogenesis and proliferation. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Access options Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription 27,99 € / 30 days cancel any time Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access 176,64 € per year only 14,72 € per issue Buy this article - Purchase on SpringerLink - Instant access to the full article PDF. 39,95 € Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout References Original article Zhang, Z. et al. Vaginal extracellular vesicles impair fertility in endometriosis by favouring Th17/Treg imbalance and inhibiting sperm activity. J. Cell. Physiol. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.31188 (2024) Author information Authors and Affiliations Corresponding author Rights and permissions About this article Cite this article Fenner, A. Sperm activity affected by endometriosis. Nat Rev Urol 21, 62 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-024-00855-1 Published: Version of record: Issue date: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-024-00855-1