Do Occupational Exposures Affect Semen Quality?

Impaired semen quality was more common among men who reported chemical and physical occupational exposures.

Medical evaluation fails to identify the cause of fertility problems in many men with abnormal semen analyses. Investigators administered questionnaires about current occupational exposures that are known to affect semen quality to 402 men (age range, 22–55) who presented with infertility at a single reproductive clinic in France. Men with identifiable causes of infertility were excluded.

Only 88 participants (22%) had normal semen analyses (sperm counts ≥40 million per ejaculate, ≥50% progressive motility or ≥25% rapid progressive motility, and ≥30% normal morphology). In an analysis adjusted for age and known risk factors, significant associations were found between semen impairment and exposure to heavy metals (odds ratio, 5.4), solvents …

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Do Occupational Exposures Affect Semen Quality?

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Reviewing Author