Deterioration of sperm quality in young healthy Belgian men

Waeleghem, K.; Clercq, Nicole De; Vermeulen, L.; Schoonjans, Frank; Comhaire, Frank

doi:10.1093/humrep/11.2.325

Cited by 203 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] By contrast, other studies have shown no evidence of deteriorating semen quality. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Some studies concern infertile couples, while others analyse normal sperm parameters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline of semen quality among 10 932 males consulting for couple infertility over a 20-year period in Marseille, France

Geoffroy-Siraudin¹,

Loundou²,

Romain³

et al. 2012

Asian J Androl

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Semen from 10 932 male partners of infertile couples was analysed and sperm parameter trends were evaluated at the Reproduction Biology Laboratory of the University Hospital of Marseille (France) between 1988 and 2007. After 3-6 days of abstinence, semen samples were collected. Measurements of seminal fluid volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm count, motility and detailed morphology of spermatozoa were performed. Sperm parameters were analysed on the entire population and in men with normal total numeration (o40 million per ejaculate). The whole population demonstrated declining trends in sperm concentration (1.5% per year), total sperm count (1.6% per year), total motility (0.4% per year), rapid motility (5.5% per year) and normal morphology (2.2% per year). In the group of selected samples with total normal sperm count, the same trends of sperm quality deterioration with time were observed. Our results clearly indicate that the quality of semen decreased in this population over the study period. Keywords: environment; male infertility; regional differences; semen quality; sperm parameters INTRODUCTION Numerous studies suggest a decline in semen quality in some parts of the world. 1-8 By contrast, other studies have shown no evidence of deteriorating semen quality. 9-16 Some studies concern infertile couples, while others analyse normal sperm parameters. Thus, a worldwide decreasing trend in semen parameter values can be neither confirmed nor rejected. 17 It was recently reported that fecundity is affected by this decrease. 18,19 It was speculated that decreasing sperm parameters are in response to adverse environmental factors. Nevertheless, the observed discrepancies between studies suggest regional differences in semen quality. [20][21][22] Variations in environmental factors, industrial pollution and/or lifestyle could explain these discrepancies. A large number of environmental factors can pollute air, drinking water and food. This can directly alter the male gonad by blood-testis barrier disruption and cellular toxicity, or disrupt androgen biosynthesis and action. Among these environmental factors, oestrogenic or anti-androgenic endocrine disrupting compounds inhibit critical cellular process controlling steroidogenesis in Leydig cells and androgen binding to the androgen receptor. 23 It has been hypothesized that endocrine disrupting compounds play a major role in the aetiology of increased incidence of testicular dysgenesis syndrome which gathers decreased quality of semen, cryptorchidism, hypospadias and testicular cancer. 24 Chemicals with hormone-like activity can also

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Decline of semen quality among 10 932 males consulting for couple infertility over a 20-year period in Marseille, France

Geoffroy-Siraudin¹,

Loundou²,

Romain³

et al. 2012

Asian J Androl

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, these changes have been accompanied by a significant decline in semen quality (8)(9)(10). The causes of the increasing incidence of abnormalities in male reproductive function are not known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Declining Semen Quality and Increasing Incidence of Testicular Cancer: Is There a Common Cause?

Carlsen¹,

Giwercman²,

Keiding³

et al. 1995

Environmental Health Perspectives

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Male reproduction has been given little attention in science and in medical practice. However, a recent metaanalysis on semen quality, which clearly pointed to a decrease over the past 50 years, has been repeatedly quoted. Three recent reports have found that semen quality has declined among candidate semen donors during the past 20 years. The evidence of decline in the quality of semen is not the only indicator that the human testis is at risk. During the past 50 years, cancer of the testis has also become more common. This is a disorder of young men, and it is associated with a high rate of other abnormalities of the testis including undescended testis and poor semen quality. Furthermore, the incidence of both hypospadias and undescended testis has been reported to be rising in the general population. We believe that the evidence of declining semen quality should be seen in the light of these trends in other reproductive disorders of men. However, the etiology is unknown. A recent hypothesis that links the trends in the health of the male reproductive system to xenoestrogens in the environment is discussed. -Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 7): 137-139(1995)

show abstract

“…Testicular cancer and other male reproductive problems are increasing and may be attributed to endocrine disruptors in the environment as well (Davis et al, 2007;Toppari et al, 1996;Adami et al, 1994). Other studies show that over the past 50 years there has been a steady decline in human sperm count which could be attributed to estrogenic effects (Carlsen 1992;Auger 1995;VanWaeleghem 1996). Additional studies have shown that endocrine disrupting chemicals are linked to developmental deficiencies and learning disabilities in children (EPA, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Channel Catfish Estrogenicity and Sewer Overflows; Implications for Xenoestrogen Exposure

Volz

Houghton²,

Sussman

et al. 2009

Proceedings of the 2007 National Conference on Environmental Science and Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Effluent from wastewater-treatment plants contains compounds that possess estrogenic activity. The southwestern Pennsylvania area has over 400 sewer overflows (SOs) that release untreated sewage. We sought to determine if the estrogenicity index (EI) of channel catfish from dense areas of SOs differed from catfish that are less impacted by SOs, using MCF-7 and BT-20 cell cultures. The MCF-7 human breast cancer line is estrogen receptor (ER) positive, while the BT-20 line is ER negative. The EI is based on the ratio of MCF-7 proliferation from application of fish extract to the response achieved from physiological levels of estradiol. Catfish caught near dense concentrations of SOs had significantly higher MCF-7 EIs than catfish from areas of less dense SOs, (p=0.02). The ER negative BT-20 cell line exhibited no proliferative response. We hypothesize that fish caught in concentrated areas of SOs have bioaccumulated more xenoestrogens than fish caught in less SO impacted areas. River water from SO contaminated areas is the primary source of drinking water for Allegheny County residents, potentially exposing large population groups to xenoestrogens. Our data suggest that evaluation of the estrogenicity of fish should be incorporated into risk assessment paradigms. Estrogen-screen evaluation of channel catfish is proposed as one model for further development.

show abstract

Deterioration of sperm quality in young healthy Belgian men

Cited by 203 publications

References 16 publications

Decline of semen quality among 10 932 males consulting for couple infertility over a 20-year period in Marseille, France

Decline of semen quality among 10 932 males consulting for couple infertility over a 20-year period in Marseille, France

Declining Semen Quality and Increasing Incidence of Testicular Cancer: Is There a Common Cause?

Channel Catfish Estrogenicity and Sewer Overflows; Implications for Xenoestrogen Exposure

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About