International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine最新文献

{"title":"An overview of the DNA damage response in female reproductive system and breast cancers: A narrative review.","authors":"Mandana Zafari, Hooman Zarei, Elham Sadeghi, Fatemeh Lotfi Asrami, Farima Bahmani, Saleheh Jahani, Dhifaf Saleem Kareem Maliki, Hadis Musavi, Amirsaleh Abdollahi","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21457","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21457","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The DNA damage response (DDR) is a fundamental cellular network that preserves genomic integrity, and its dysregulation drives initiation, progression, and therapeutic response in female reproductive system and breast cancers. This narrative review provides a comparative analysis of DDR alterations across ovarian, endometrial, cervical, and breast cancers, synthesizing molecular studies, clinical trials, and international guidelines from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. DDR alterations vary substantially among these cancers, reflecting differences in tissue origin, hormonal regulation, and viral oncogenesis. Homologous recombination repair defects, particularly in breast cancer susceptibility 1/2, partner and localizer of BRCA2, ataxia telangiectasia mutated, and checkpoint kinase 2), are prevalent in ovarian, endometrial, and breast cancers, predicting sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors. In endometrial cancer, homologous recombination deficiency predominates in high-grade tumor protein p53-mutated subtypes, while Fanconi anemia pathway alterations characterize aggressive serous carcinomas. Cervical cancer exhibits virus-induced DDR disruption and replication stress. Quantitative biomarkers, including tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, <i>Radiation sensitive 51</i>, Fanconi anemia complementation group D2, excision repair cross-complementation group 1, and DDR-related microRNAs enable patient stratification. Emerging ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related and WEE1 inhibitors show promise in combination regimens. Understanding of tumor-specific DDR enables rational therapeutic stratification, providing a framework for precision oncology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 6","pages":"483-498"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530881/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148874191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-invasive embryo assessment: Cell-free DNA-based genetic testing and amino acid metabolomics in relation to morphology: A case-control study.","authors":"Maliheh Jahanara, Hassan Sharifiyazdi, Seyed Mehdi Kalantar, Nasrin Ghasemi, Mojgan Moshrefi, Mehran Ghaemi, Fateme Montazeri","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21458","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21458","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in spent culture medium (SCM) offers a non-invasive option for preimplantation genetic testing, but its low concentration and fragmentation reduce clinical reliability. Combining genetic assessment with metabolomic profiling may provide complementary information about embryo competence.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study assessed pre-analytical cfDNA processing workflows and examined whether SCM amino acid metabolic patterns could act as practical markers of embryo quality.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this case-control study (2021-2023), 90 embryos were evaluated using fluorescence in situ hybridization or array comparative genomic hybridization. SCM samples underwent rapid boiling, silica-based purification, or whole-genome amplification (WGA). Sex determination was performed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). For cfDNA quality control and aneuploidy screening, the multiplex IRFiling kit and quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) were used. Amino acid profiles across embryonic developmental stages and quality grades were quantified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Rapid boiling resulted in complete failure of DNA amplification. Conversely, silica-based purification yielded 70.0% concordance for qPCR-based sexing and 56.7% for QF-PCR. WGA achieved the highest efficacy (73.3% qPCR and 56.7% QF-PCR concordance), although quality control checks flagged occasional misclassifications. LC-MS/MS profiling revealed significantly elevated alanine and arginine levels in tripronuclear embryos. Furthermore, high-quality blastocysts exhibited elevated glutamic acid levels alongside a pronounced overall depletion of extracellular amino acids compared to low-quality counterparts and controls.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>WGA improves cfDNA detectability and qPCR accuracy compared with boiling or purification, but remains inadequate as a standalone screening approach. SCM amino acid profiling provides informative, complementary metabolic signatures of developmental competence, supporting a multimodal strategy for non-invasive embryo assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 6","pages":"499-516"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530877/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148874203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Extracellular vesicles in assisted reproductive technology: A double-edged sword in fertility enhancement.","authors":"Elham Afkhami, Mansoureh Movahedin, Sayed Abbas Datli Beigi, Behrouz Aflatoonian","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21462","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21462","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 6","pages":"547-549"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530874/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148874214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced three-dimensional culture technologies in reproductive medicine: A narrative review.","authors":"Annahita Ghaedrahmati, Mohammad Zandi","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21456","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i6.21456","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent advancements in 3-dimensional (3D) in vitro culture systems for follicles, oocytes, and embryos represent a paradigm shift in assisted reproductive technologies and reproductive biology. By mimicking the native physiological microenvironment more faithfully than conventional 2-dimensional systems, these innovative platforms directly address critical limitations of current in vitro embryo production protocols, including low blastocyst development rates, compromised embryo quality, and concerning epigenetic aberrations. This comprehensive review examines a spectrum of emerging 3D strategies, microfluidic devices, dynamic culture conditions, spheroid/organoid models, and advanced co-culture systems with supportive somatic and stem cells. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that these technologies (by preserving 3D follicular and embryonic architecture, enhancing nutrient and gas exchange, and restoring vital cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions) significantly improve oocyte maturation rates, embryo developmental competence, and overall in vitro fertilization outcomes. Nevertheless, challenges such as species-specific optimization, scalability, high costs, and the imperative for clinical standardization remain significant hurdles. Future directions to overcome these obstacles involve the development of smart, physiologically responsive biomaterials, the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and organ-on-a-chip platforms, and the creation of cost-effective systems for widespread application. This review underscores the transformative potential of 3D culture systems as a foundational new approach in reproductive research and fertility treatments.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 6","pages":"465-482"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13530880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148874188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selenium mitigates cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity on sperm quality in mice: An experimental study.","authors":"Malek Soleimani Mehranjani, Sarina Garavand, Sepideh Ahmadi","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21292","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21292","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cyclophosphamide (CP), a commonly used chemotherapy drug, induces oxidative stress and damages testicular tissue, leading to impaired spermatogenesis.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the effects of selenium, a potent antioxidant, on sperm parameters in adult mice treated with CP.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this experimental study, 32 adult male NMRI mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 8/each): A) control, B) CP (100 mg/kg/wk, intraperitoneally), C) selenium (1 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally), and D) CP + selenium. After 35 days of treatment, spermatozoa were collected from the caudal epididymis. Basic sperm parameters (motility, count, viability, morphology, and tail length), and functional parameters (plasma membrane integrity, nuclear maturity, and DNA damage) were evaluated. Daily sperm production was evaluated using the left testis. Serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were also measured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In the CP group, sperm motility, count, viability, membrane integrity, normal morphology, tail length (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), nuclear maturity (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.05), DNA integrity, daily sperm production (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), and TAC (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001) were significantly reduced, while MDA levels increased (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001) vs. controls. In the CP + selenium group, motility (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), count (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.01), viability (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), membrane integrity, normal morphology (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.01), tail length (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.05), DNA integrity, daily sperm production (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), and TAC (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.05) significantly improved, with reduced MDA levels (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001) compared to CP group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CP impaired sperm quality and antioxidant status through oxidative stress in mice, whereas selenium co-administration mitigated these adverse effects by improving sperm parameters, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and reducing lipid peroxidation, indicating protection against CP-induced reproductive toxicity.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 5","pages":"433-444"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402955/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148603116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does the transfer of a poor-quality embryo along with a good-quality embryo influence the intracytoplasmic sperm injection embryo transfer outcomes? A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Ramesh Baradaran Bagheri, Samaneh Sadat Hosseini, Saba Hosseingholipour, Shima Mohammadian","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21289","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Embryo quality is one of the most important factors influencing the success of assisted reproductive treatments.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transferring poor-quality embryos along with good-quality embryos on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, data of 124 women who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer from January to December 2023 at Kamali hospital, Karaj, Iran were extracted from their medical records. Participants were classified into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 32) received only high-quality embryos (grades 1-2; A), group 2 (n = 34) received only poor-quality embryos (grades 3-4; B), and group 3 (n = 58) received a combination of both (A+B). Chemical pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and miscarriage rates were measured.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Chemical pregnancy rates were 53.1%, 32.4%, and 44.8% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (p = 0.227). Clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in group 1 (82.4%) compared with group 2 (54.5%) and group 3 (76.9%) (p = 0.001). Miscarriage rates were 17.6%, 27.3%, and 26.9%, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.81). Multivariate logistic regression adjusting for female age and body mass index confirmed that the embryo quality group was a significant independent predictor of clinical pregnancy. Compared to group 2 (only poor-quality embryos), the adjusted odds ratio for achieving a clinical pregnancy was 4.12 (95% confidence interval: 1.15-14.78, p = 0.030) for group 1 and 3.05 (95% confidence interval: 1.01-9.22, p = 0.048) for group 3.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Transfer of high-quality embryos (grade A) yielded the best pregnancy outcomes. However, when high-quality embryos are limited, transferring a combination of good- and poor-quality embryos may improve outcomes compared with transferring only poor-quality embryos.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 5","pages":"403-412"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402959/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148603140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The role of tumor necrosis factor alpha in regulating CYFRA 21-1 as a potential biomarker for endometriosis: A cross-sectional study.","authors":"Nicko Pisceski Kusika Saputra, Samsulhadi Samsulhadi, Hendy Hendarto, Ashon Saádi, Widodo J Pudjirahardjo, I Wayan Arsana, Relly Yanuari, Sri Ratna Dwiningsih, Suri Dwi Lesmana","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21293","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21293","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological conditions, and the gold standard for its diagnosis is laparoscopy. Cytokeratin fragment 21-1 (CYFRA 21-1) has emerged as a potential biomarker candidate due to its strong association with endometriosis. The mechanisms underlying the cleavage of cytokeratin-19 into CYFRA 21-1 remain unclear. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) may play a regulatory role in this process. <b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to analyze the correlation between intraperitoneal TNF-α levels and CYFRA 21-1 expression levels in women with endometriosis. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> This was an analytical study with a cross-sectional study design, involving 38 women diagnosed with endometriosis and 35 non-endometriosis women as controls. Both CYFRA 21-1 and TNF-α concentrations were measured using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay method. Urine creatinine was measured using the Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay method, while clinical data were collected through medical records. <b>Results:</b> The mean intraperitoneal TNF-α level was significantly higher in the endometriosis group compared to controls (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between intraperitoneal TNF-α concentrations and CYFRA 21-1 levels (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001; r 0,662 [95% CI: 0.426-0.814]), indicating a strong association. Furthermore, a strong positive correlation was observed between the urinary CYFRA 21-1 to creatinine ratio and intraperitoneal TNF-α levels, particularly during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. <b>Conclusion:</b> These findings suggest that TNF-α may influence CYFRA 21-1 expression in a cycle phase-dependent manner, supporting the potential role of CYFRA 21-1 as a non-invasive biomarker for endometriosis, particularly during the proliferative phase.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 5","pages":"445-456"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402962/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148603180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lesion size reduction in mouse model of endometriosis following clove (<i>Syzygium aromaticum</i>) leaf extract administration: An experimental study.","authors":"Fitrianti Umayroh Mahardika, Hendy Hendarto, Widjiati","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21288","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21288","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Endometriosis affects about 10% of reproductive-age women, causing pelvic pain and infertility. Its progression involves angiogenesis and neurovascular innervation, mediated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Clove leaf extract may suppress lesion growth by reducing these pathways through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study evaluated clove leaf extract's impact on VEGF and BDNF pathways and lesion size in female mice with endometriosis, testing whether extract reduces VEGF, BDNF, and lesion area, with the hypothesis that intermediate dosage provides optimal efficacy.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 36 female BALB/c mouse endometriosis model (2-3 months old, weighing 20-30 gr) induced by uterine endometrial implantation with estrogen supplementation were randomly assigned to 4 groups: one untreated control group (K⁺) and 3 treatment groups receiving clove leaf extract at doses of 75 mg/kg-BW (P1), 150 mg/kg-BW (P2), and 300 mg/kg-BW (P3). Blood samples and peritoneal tissue were collected for analysis using commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kits targeting VEGF and BDNF, as well as Motic imaging for lesion assessment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Following 14 days of clove leaf extract administration, endometriosis lesion area significantly decreased (p = 0.001), whereas VEGF (p = 0.27) and BDNF (p = 0.13) remained unchanged. Histological analysis corroborated lesion reduction, confirming extract's impact on lesion morphology without altering VEGF or BDNF.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The hypothesized involvement of VEGF and BDNF was not supported by the data. The principal finding is a reduction in lesion size, with the underlying mechanism remaining uncertain and potentially independent of VEGF/BDNF modulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 5","pages":"391-402"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148678640","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of intratesticular autologous platelet-rich plasma injection on sperm DNA fragmentation in men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia: An RCT.","authors":"Shamim Pilehvari, Marzieh Ghorbani, Hooshang Babalhavaeji, Elaheh Talebi-Ghane, Faezeh Fazli","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21291","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21291","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is one of the most common multifactorial causes of male infertility. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), a biological product, has emerged as a promising regenerative therapy in various fields of medicine, including reproductive health. Therefore, we investigated the effect of PRP administration on sperm DNA fragmentation in OAT men.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim was to evaluate the effect of intratesticular injection of PRP on DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in men with idiopathic OAT and assess its potential as a novel therapeutic intervention to enhance sperm DNA integrity.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This randomized controlled trial study involved 160 infertile men diagnosed with OAT without underlying diseases who were referred to the infertility center of Fatemieh Infertility Center, Hamadan, Iran, from July 2023 to July 2024. The participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups using a block randomization method. The intervention group received 1-2 cc of PRP in each testicle. Sperm parameters and DFI were measured; a hormonal study was also performed before and after the procedure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results revealed a significant difference in concentration (p = 0.030), progressive motility (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), DNA fragmentation (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), normal morphology (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001), and also testosterone levels (p <math><mo><</mo></math> 0.001) between groups after PRP injection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>PRP Injection into the testis appears to be a safe, minimally invasive, and potentially effective therapeutic approach in enhancing sperm quality and reducing DFI in men with OAT.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 5","pages":"421-432"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402964/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148603112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of spiritual health with mental health status, and quality of life among women with infertility: A systematic review.","authors":"Narges Sadat Soltani, Farahnaz Heshmat, Mohadese Bakhshi Ghalibaf, Malihe Mahmoudinia, Robab Latifnejad Roudsari","doi":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21286","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijrm.v24i5.21286","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Spirituality is currently a major focus of health care provision. Given the lack of systematic reviews on how spiritual health interrelates with mental health status and quality of life among infertile women, this review was conducted.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate the association of spiritual health with mental health status and quality of life among women with infertility.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>The current systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses as well as meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology guidelines. Online databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycInfo, were systematically searched, along with the manual search of Google Scholar search engine. The search was conducted in both Farsi and English language by 2 independent reviewers, without a time limit, until July 2025. The quality of included cross-sectional studies were assessed using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale with a maximum score of 7. The eligible studies were reviewed, and extracted data were narratively synthesized.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 275 identified articles, 19 were reviewed in terms of eligibility, and 10 cross-sectional studies (involving 1852 infertile women) were included. The majority of studies scored below 5, indicating low methodological quality. The results showed that higher spiritual health was associated with lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. However, regarding quality of life, the results were contradictory.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Spiritual health is associated with reduced psychological distress in women with infertility. However, given the limited number and generally low quality of available studies,the findings should be interpreted with caution, underscoring the need for further research with more robust designs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14386,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Reproductive Biomedicine","volume":"24 5","pages":"369-382"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13402960/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148603158","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}