From probiotics to postbiotics: microbial approaches in male reproductive health

Year 2026, Volume: 19 Issue: 1, 99 - 106, 16.02.2026

Gamze Zengin , Kerem Azkeskin , Fatih Kar

https://doi.org/10.46309/biodicon.2026.1838383

https://izlik.org/JA46EJ62FU

Abstract

From Probiotics to Postbiotics: Microbial Approaches in Male Reproductive Health
Gamze ZENGİN 1, Kerem AZKESKİN 2, Fatih KAR 2
ORCID: 0000-0002-5215-6088; 0009-0002-7609-8617; 0000-0001-8356-9806.

1 Kütahya University of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biology, Kütahya, 43000, Turkey.
2 Kütahya University of Health Sciences, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Kütahya, 43000, Turkey.

Purpose: Fertility refers to an individual's reproductive health and capacity for reproduction, while infertility is the inability to achieve a healthy pregnancy. The purpose of this review is to examine the impact of microbial approaches on male reproductive health and to compile current findings on how gut microbiota regulation can improve fertility outcomes.
Method: A literature search was conducted using articles obtained from various scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus). The review focused on studies addressing the effects of probiotics, postbiotics, and other microbial therapeutic approaches, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), on male reproductive health.
Findings: The studies indicate that microbiome imbalance negatively affects male reproductive health by impairing sperm production, testosterone levels, and sperm quality. Microbiome-based therapies, including prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, and FMT, can restore microbial balance, support beneficial microorganisms, and provide biologically active compounds. These interventions have the potential to improve sperm quality, regulate hormone levels, and enhance overall male reproductive health.
Conclusion: This review highlights the potential of microbial therapeutic approaches in improving male reproductive health. By regulating gut microbiota balance, these therapies offer promising strategies for addressing male infertility. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the development, effectiveness, and potential applications of microbiome-based treatments in reproductive medicine.

Keywords: Microbiota, Infertility, Prebiotics, Probiotics, Postbiotics, FMT.

Keywords

Microbiota , Infertility , Prebiotics , Probiotics , Postbiotics , FMT.

Ethical Statement

As this study is a review, it did not involve any human or animal experiments and therefore did not require ethics committee approval.

Supporting Institution

This review was prepared based on data obtained from the project titled “Investigation of the Nephrogenic and Neuroprotective Effects of Boron-Supplemented Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the NCM460 Cell Damage and Neuroinflammation Rat Model via the Gut–Brain–Microbiota Axis”, conducted under the TÜSEB Group B support program (project code: 32373).

Project Number

TÜSEB B - 32373

Probiyotiklerden postbiyotiklere: erkek üreme sağlığında mikrobiyal yaklaşımlar

https://izlik.org/JA46EJ62FU

Abstract

Probiyotiklerden Postbiyotiklere: Erkek Üreme Sağlığında Mikrobiyal Yaklaşımlar

Özet
Amaç: Fertilite, bireyin üreme sağlığını ve üreme kapasitesini ifade ederken; infertilite, sağlıklı bir gebelik elde edememe durumudur. Bu derlemenin amacı, mikrobiyal yaklaşımların erkek üreme sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini incelemek ve bağırsak mikrobiyotasının düzenlenmesi yoluyla fertiliteyi iyileştirebilecek güncel bulguları derlemektir.
Yöntem: Araştırma, çeşitli bilimsel veri tabanlarından (PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus) elde edilen makaleler kullanılarak yapılan bir literatür taramasına dayanmaktadır. Derleme, probiyotikler, postbiyotikler ve fekal mikrobiyota transplantasyonu (FMT) dahil olmak üzere diğer mikrobiyal tedavi yaklaşımlarının erkek üreme sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini ele alan çalışmalara odaklanmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışmalar, mikrobiyom dengesizliğinin sperm üretimini, testosteron seviyelerini ve sperm kalitesini olumsuz etkileyerek erkek üreme sağlığını bozduğunu göstermektedir. Prebiyotikler, probiyotikler, postbiyotikler ve FMT gibi mikrobiyom temelli terapiler, mikrobiyal dengeyi yeniden sağlayabilir, faydalı mikroorganizmaları destekleyebilir ve biyolojik olarak aktif bileşikler sunabilir. Bu müdahaleler, sperm kalitesini artırma, hormon seviyelerini düzenleme ve genel erkek üreme sağlığını iyileştirme potansiyeline sahiptir.

Sonuç: Bu derleme, mikrobiyal tedavi yaklaşımlarının erkek üreme sağlığını iyileştirmedeki potansiyelini vurgulamaktadır. Bağırsak mikrobiyotasının dengelenmesi yoluyla bu terapiler, erkek infertilitesine yönelik umut verici stratejiler sunmaktadır. Bulgular, üreme tıbbında mikrobiyom temelli tedavilerin gelişimi, etkinliği ve potansiyel uygulama alanları hakkında kapsamlı bir anlayış sağlamaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler: Mikrobiyota, İnfertilite, Prebiyotikler, Probiyotikler, Postbiyotikler, FMT

Keywords

Mikrobiyota , İnfertilite , Prebiyotikler , Probiyotikler , Postbiyotikler , FMT.

Ethical Statement

Author Contributions All authors contributed equally to this study. Conflict of Interest Statement The authors declare no conflict of interest. Research and Publication Ethics Statement The study was conducted in accordance with research and publication ethics. Acknowledgements This review was prepared based on data obtained from the project titled “Investigation of the Nephrogenic and Neuroprotective Effects of Boron-Supplemented Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the NCM460 Cell Damage and Neuroinflammation Rat Model via the Gut–Brain–Microbiota Axis”, conducted under the TÜSEB Group B support program (project code: 32373). Within this study, the role of the gut–testis–microbiota axis in physiological and pathological processes, the potential therapeutic effects of fecal microbiota transplantation, and other treatments were evaluated in light of the relevant project findings and the current literature. Ethics Statement As this study is a review, it did not involve any human or animal experiments and therefore did not require ethics committee approval.

Project Number

TÜSEB B - 32373

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