Differences in the Quality of Semen in Outdoor Workers during Summer and Winter

Levine, Richard J.; Mathew, Ravi M.; Brown, Michelle H.; Hurtt, Mark E.; Bentley, Karin S.; Mohr, Kathleen; Working, Peter K.; Chenault, C. Brandon

doi:10.1097/00006254-199011000-00017

Cited by 22 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…More men from Denmark delivered their semen sample from September to February when the sperm concentration has been reported to be slightly higher than during the summer season (23)(24)(25)(26). This would result in a higher true difference than that reported.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semen quality among Danish and Finnish men attempting to conceive. The Danish First Pregnancy Planner Study Team

Jensen¹,

Vierula²,

Hjøllund³

et al. 2000

Eur J Endocrinol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To assess differences in semen quality between similar populations from Denmark and Finland. Design: Comparison of semen quality between 221 Finnish men (of whom 115 had no proven fertility) and 411 Danish men with no proven fertility in two follow-up studies among normal couples trying to conceive. Methods: In Finland male partners of couples without experienced infertility attempting to conceive were recruited through advertisements in local newspapers from 1984 to 1986. From 1992 to 1995 Danish men who lived with a partner and who had not attempted to achieve a pregnancy previously were recruited through their union when they discontinued birth control. All semen analyses were performed in accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines. Results: Median sperm concentration, total sperm count and the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa were significantly higher among the Finnish men without proven fertility (104.0 million/ml, 304.0 million and 58% respectively) compared with the Danish men (53.0 million/ml, 140.8 million, and 41% respectively). Sperm concentration was 105.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 58.1%-167.6%) and total sperm count was 127.4% (95% CI 71.4%-201.6%) higher among Finnish men without proven fertility than among Danish men after control for confounders. Conclusions: Some, but hardly all, of the observed difference in semen quality may be explained by differences in recruitment procedures, selection of the men and by methodological differences in semen analysis between the two countries. Also a birth cohort effect may explain some of the differences between countries as the Finnish men were recruited 11 years before the Danish men. Therefore, follow-up studies with identical recruitment and selection of men from the two countries are needed.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semen quality among Danish and Finnish men attempting to conceive. The Danish First Pregnancy Planner Study Team

Jensen¹,

Vierula²,

Hjøllund³

et al. 2000

Eur J Endocrinol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The fluctuations across time within a man are nearly as great as the variation between men and can only partly be explained by the duration of the period of abstinence [8]. The concentration and probably also the sperm motility seem to be subject to seasonal variation, the best quality in the northern hemisphere being registered during the winter and spring [67]. Seasonal variation accounts only for a part of total variation which, thus, remains largely unknown [8].…”

Section: Semen Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seasonal variation accounts only for a part of total variation which, thus, remains largely unknown [8]. Experiments with rhesus monkeys suggest that the seasonal changes in semen quality may be driven by an inherent circannual biological clock reset annually by seasonal changes in the length of daylight [67]. Although there are some guidelines under WHO to introduce standardization and quality control in sperm laboratory work [68], the assessment of semen quality -even within the same laboratory -may be subject to variation between technicians and related to time [69].…”

Section: Semen Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental factors and semen quality

Jurewicz¹,

Hanke²,

Radwan³

et al. 2009

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

161

109

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: An increasing number of reports suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by human activity, may affect male fertility in humans. This article aims at evaluating the impact of environmental exposures (pesticides, phthalates, PCBs, air pollution, trihalomethanes (THMs), mobile phones) on semen quality, by reviewing most recent published literature. Materials and Methods: Epidemiological studies focusing on exposure to environmental factors and semen quality for the last ten years were identified by a search of the Pubmed, Medline, Ebsco, Agricola and Toxnet literature bases. Results: The results from the presented studies suggest that there are strong and rather consistent indications that some pesticides besides DBCP (e.g. DDT/Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], ethylenedibromide, organophosphates) affects sperm count. PCBs are detrimental to sperm motility. In case of air pollution, studies suggest a link between ambient air pollutants and various semen characteristics. Additional research is needed to corroborate this association and to establish the causal agents. Results of few studies on subfertile men demonstrate associations between phthalate levels commonly experienced by the public and impaired sperm quality (impact on sperm concentration, morphology, motility), but the findings have not been corroborated in studies of men from the general population. Mobile phones might adversely affect the quality of semen by decreasing mostly motility but also the sperm counts, viability and morphology. In spite of their consistent results, most of the studies are rather small. Association between exposure to THMs and poor semen quality was not observed. Conclusions: Epidemiological studies suggest awareness of environmental factors which may affect semen quality. In case both of well proven and disputable reproductive and developmental hazards, it is necessary to prevent parental exposure to the agents associated with those hazards.

show abstract

“…Sperm concentration, total sperm count per ejaculate and motile sperm concentration have been reported to be lower in the summer than in the winter [19][20][21][22] and even mild heat can temporarily reduce the number of sperm ejaculated after two to three weeks [23]. The effect of heat stress on spermatogenesis may further extend time to pregnancy and decrease birth rate in women [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of paternal heat stress on the in vivo development of preimplantation embryos in the mouse

Zhu

Setchell

2004

Reprod. Nutr. Dev.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

-The objective of this study was to examine the effect of paternal heat stress on the in vivo development of preimplantation embryos in the mouse. Synchronised B6CBF1 female mice were mated either to a control male mouse or to one that had been exposed at 7, 21 or 35 days previously, for 24 h to an ambient temperature of 36 ± 0.3 °C and 66 ± 5.6% relative humidity. Embryos were collected from the oviducts of mice at 14-16 h, 34-39 h or 61-65 h after mating or from the uterus at 85-90 h after mating and their developmental status was evaluated morphologically. The number of cells within blastocysts was also determined using bisbenzimide-propidium iodide staining. Paternal heat stress 7 days before mating reduced the proportion of embryos developing from 4-cell (4-C) to morulae (M), hatched blastocysts, total blastocysts and the number of inner cell mass (ICM) and trophectoderm (TE) cells in the blastocyst. Paternal heat stress 21 days prior to mating reduced the proportion of 2-C and 4-C to M embryos with no embryos developing to blastocysts. There were also increases in the number of 1-C and abnormal embryos recorded at this time. Paternal heat stress 35 days before mating decreased the proportion of 2-C embryos, expanded blastocysts and ICM and TE cells in the blastocyst. These results support previous work demonstrating that both the sperm in the epididymis and germ cells in the testis are susceptible to damage by environmental heat stress, with spermatocytes being the most vulnerable. This study also demonstrates that subtle effects on the male such as a short exposure to elevated environmental temperatures can translate to quite profound paternal impacts on early embryo development.paternal heat stress / in vivo development / mouse preimplantation embryos

show abstract

Differences in the Quality of Semen in Outdoor Workers during Summer and Winter

Cited by 22 publications

References 0 publications

Semen quality among Danish and Finnish men attempting to conceive. The Danish First Pregnancy Planner Study Team

Semen quality among Danish and Finnish men attempting to conceive. The Danish First Pregnancy Planner Study Team

Environmental factors and semen quality

Effects of paternal heat stress on the in vivo development of preimplantation embryos in the mouse

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About