Regional differences in semen quality in Europe

Jørgensen, Niels; Andersen, A. Nyboe; Eustache, Florence; Irvine, D. Stewart; Suominen, J.; Petersen, Jørgen Holm; Andersen, Anders Nyboe; Auger, Jacques; Cawood, Elizabeth; Horte, Antero; Jensen, Tina Kold; Jouannet, Pierre; Keiding, Niels; Vierula, Matti; Toppari, Jorma; Skakkebæk, Niels E.

doi:10.1093/humrep/16.5.1012

Cited by 421 publications

(298 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Spatial heterogeneity has previously been observed in France in limited samples (Auger & Jouannet 1997), as well as in Europe (Jorgensen et al 2001) or in USA (Swan et al 2003), but little is known about the causal factors. The present study aims to analyze spatial patterns in France between 1989 and2005, using the same sample in which the global trends were calculated, in order to generate possible consistent hypotheses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Semen quality trends in French regions are consistent with a global change in environmental exposure

Moal¹,

Rolland²,

Goria³

et al. 2014

Reproduction

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A retrospective study carried out recently in a large sample of men, close to the general population, has reported a significant and strong decline in sperm concentration and morphology in the whole of France between 1989 and 2005. We studied these trends within each region of France. Data were obtained from the Fivnat database. The study sample comprised male partners of sterile women in whom both tubes were absent or blocked. They were located at the assisted reproductive technology center. A Bayesian spatio-temporal model with parametric time trends, adjusted for age, was used to model overall time trends for each region. The results show that sperm concentration decreased in almost all regions of France. Among them, Aquitaine showed the highest decrease and Midi-Pyrénées had the lowest average for the whole period. Regarding total motility, most regions showed a slight increase while Bourgogne showed a steep and significant decrease. While considering sperm morphology, there was a decrease in most of the regions. The decrease in Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées was stronger when compared with the overall trend. In conclusion, a decrease in sperm concentration and morphology, already shown at the French metropolitan territory level, was observed in most regions of France. This is consistent with a global change in environmental exposure, according to the endocrine disruptor hypothesis especially. Indeed, ubiquitary exposure to chemicals has been growing in the general population of France since the 1950s, and the results do not appear to support the lifestyle hypothesis. The highest decreases and lowest values are consistently observed in two proximate regions that are both highly agricultural and densely populated.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Temporal trends in human semen quality have been discussed for a long time, partly due to spatial heterogeneity (Jorgensen et al 2001) and methodological issues (Fisch 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semen quality trends in French regions are consistent with a global change in environmental exposure

Moal¹,

Rolland²,

Goria³

et al. 2014

Reproduction

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“…incidence of cryptorchidism, hypospadias and testicular cancer and semen quality) (8,9,10,11,12); we questioned whether population-level changes in testosterone levels would also be apparent in Finnish men and therefore not specific to men from Denmark and New England.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men

Perheentupa

Mäkinen²,

Laatikainen

et al. 2013

European Journal of Endocrinology

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Objective: To investigate whether a population-level decline in serum testosterone exists in Finnish men. In comparison with other European populations, Finnish men have compared well in the studies of reproductive health (i.e. semen quality, incidence of cryptorchidism and testicular cancer); thus, we expected no significant cohort-dependent decrease in serum testosterone. Methods: We analysed serum levels of testosterone, gonadotrophin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in 3271 men representing different ages (25-74 years) and birth cohorts within three large Finnish population surveys conducted in 1972, 1977 and 2002. Results: Serum testosterone levels decreased (from 25.3 nmol/l in 25-to 29-year-old men gradually to 16.9 nmol/l in 70-to 74-year-old men), whereas SHBG and gonadotrophin levels increased with increasing age. In addition, a significant secular trend in testosterone (total and free), SHBG and gonadotrophin levels was observed with lower levels in more recently born age-matched men. Serum testosterone level decreased in men aged 60-69 years from 21.9 nmol/l (men born 1913-1922) to 13.8 nmol/l (men born 1942-1951). These decreases remained significant following adjustment for BMI. An age-independent birth cohort effect existed on reproductive hormones measured in the Finnish men. In concert with the lower free testosterone levels, we observed lower gonadotrophin levels, suggesting that while there may be detrimental changes at the gonad level, the hypothalamuspituitary-axis is not responding appropriately to this change. Conclusions: The more recently born Finnish men have lower testosterone levels than their earlier born peers. This study offers no explanation for this substantial recent adverse development.

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“…Indeed, both cryptorchidism and hypospadias were at least twice as common in Denmark than in Finland [8,9,10]. We also studied whether the differences in semen quality were true in well-controlled joint studies and found that semen quality of both fertile men and young men from the general population were worse in Denmark than in Finland [11,12]. Furthermore, the adverse changes in the incidence of most of these disorders took place in Denmark within a few decades [8,13].…”

Section: Case Study: Association Between Cryptorchidism and Dioxins Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure Variation and Endocrine Disruption of the Male Reproductive System

Toppari

Rodprasert²,

Koskenniemi³

2016

Horm Res Paediatr

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Exposure to endocrine disruptors varies geographically and temporally. Environmental levels of persistent organic pollutants have decreased after international regulation, whereas potential exposure to thousands of new chemicals has increased. The adverse effects of endocrine disruptors depend on susceptibility and timing of the exposure. Fetal and childhood exposures are often most harmful because of organizational and programming effects. In this review, we use the exposure to persistent organic pollutants such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers, dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls and differences in the incidence of reproductive disorders between Denmark and Finland as an example to highlight how exposure variation and variation in genetic susceptibility may influence the strength of the association between the exposure to endocrine disruptors and adverse effects. Understanding the causes and implications of interindividual differences in susceptibility to endocrine disruptors is crucial for the protection of normal development.

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Regional differences in semen quality in Europe

Cited by 421 publications

References 34 publications

Semen quality trends in French regions are consistent with a global change in environmental exposure

Semen quality trends in French regions are consistent with a global change in environmental exposure

A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men

Exposure Variation and Endocrine Disruption of the Male Reproductive System

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