Assessing fertility preservation strategies: A scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To describe the various options available for preserving female and/or male fertility, taking into account both social and medical aspects, and to identify the effects of different natural products on male infertility extracted from plants. Methods: We reviewed the literature and included full-text publications in English provided by international biomedical databases, including Sciences Direct, Google Scholar, OVID, PubMed, and MEDLINE between 2016 and 2023. Search terms, such as fertility preservation, in vitro maturation, cryopreservation, plants for the treatment of male infertility, were taken from Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and Boolean operators were used to improve sensitivity. Results: 112 papers were identified in the initial search, of which 18 were excluded due to duplication. After reviewing titles and abstracts, 70 papers were finally included. The main findings of this study are presented under three key themes: gametogenesis, fertility preservation techniques, and plant-based alternatives. Regarding gametogenesis, significant progress has been made in understanding oocyte and sperm maturation, with optimized conditions improving maturation rates and motility. For fertility preservation, techniques such as rescue in vitro maturation and cryopreservation have shown the enhanced outcomes, particularly in maintaining gamete quality. Lastly, plant-based alternatives, including extracts and essential oils, have demonstrated potential in reducing oxidative stress, improving sperm motility, and supporting oocyte development, thus providing a promising complementary approach to conventional methods. Conclusions: Fertility preservation is achieved in a variety of ways, including oocyte and embryo vitrification and sperm cryopreservation, and the use of plant-based treatment of male infertility.