Regional differences and temporal trends in male reproductive health disorders: Semen quality may be a sensitive marker of environmental exposures

Objectives. To study the associations between kisspeptin levels in seminal plasma and blood plasma and semen quality. Materials and Methods. We conducted a male reproductive health survey in June 2014. A total of 666 volunteers were recruited from colleges in Chongqing, China. All volunteers completed a questionnaire including information on domestic characteristics and some potential confounders. We tested the kisspeptin levels in both blood and seminal plasma. Total seminal kisspeptin was calculated as the concentration of kisspeptin in seminal plasma multiplied by semen volume. Semen samples were tested according to the 2010 World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines. Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression were used to explore the association between kisspeptin concentrations in seminal plasma and blood plasma and semen quality. Potential confounders that were adjusted for included age, abstinence time, body mass index (BMI), grade, and smoking. Results. The median of kisspeptin levels in seminal plasma was 60,000 times higher than kisspeptin in blood plasma (28.0 × 106 pg/ml versus 448.9 pg/ml). Each interquartile range (IQR) of kisspeptin in seminal plasma was associated with a 4.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6%–7.6%) increase in sperm concentration. Each IQR of total kisspeptin was associated with a 7.7% (95% CI: 4.4%–11.0%) increase in total sperm number and a 7.8% (95% CI: 4.0%–11.7%) increase in total motile sperm count. Kisspeptin levels were further classified into quartiles and Q1 was set as the reference level. Subjects in the high total kisspeptin group had 57.5% (95% CI: 33.2%–86.2%) higher total sperm number than the reference group. Conclusion. The positive association between kisspeptin levels in seminal plasma and semen quality supported an important role for the KISS1/GPR54 system in male reproductive health. Kisspeptin may be a potential marker of male reproductive health and an alternative strategy for treating infertility.

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Efeito da atividade física sobre a qualidade seminal

Caderno de Educação Física e Esporte ◽

10.36453/2318-5104.2020.v18.n1.p41 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 41-47

Author(s):

Leonardo Monteiro Nesello ◽

Fábio Pasqualotto

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Clinical Evidence ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Moderate Physical Activity ◽

Hormonal Changes ◽

Physical Activity Intensity ◽

Activity Intensity ◽

Male Reproductive Health ◽

Intense Physical Activity

INTRODUÇÃO: A saúde reprodutora masculina pode ser influenciada devida à prática de atividade física, e com isso tem-se aumentado o número de estudos que analisam o efeito da atividade física na qualidade seminal. Descobertas apontam que mudanças significativas na qualidade do sêmen podem ocorrer com a prática de atividade física, que pode alterar sua qualidade de acordo com o tipo de atividade física, a intensidade e a duração. OBJETIVO: Neste contexto, o presente estudo realizou uma análise detalhada da literatura atual com o objetivo de verificar o efeito de diferentes atividades físicas sobre a saúde reprodutora masculina. MÉTODO: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática feita nas bases de dados do PubMed. Utilizou-se os itens propostos pelo PRISMA para a busca, seleção e extração de dados. De acordo com o fluxograma proposto, 244 artigos foram identificados e, destes, 12 foram selecionados. RESULTADOS: Apoiada por fortes evidências clínicas, esta revisão sugere que a atividade física intensa pode provocar fortes alterações hormonais e prejudicar a qualidade seminal. Já a atividade física moderada parece ter um efeito neutro ou benéfico para a qualidade do sêmen. Além disso, o efeito da atividade física na qualidade do sêmen pode ser diferente de acordo com o tipo de atividade física. CONCLUSÃO: Frente às evidências, ainda existe falta de conclusões sólidas sobre esse assunto, devido ao fato de existir muita contradição entre os estudos existentes e da atividade física não ser facilmente quantificada. ABSTRACT. Effect of physical activity on seminal quality, BACKGROUND: Male reproductive health may be influenced by physical activity, and this has increased the number of studies that analyze the effect of physical activity on seminal quality. Findings indicate that significant changes in semen quality can occur due to the practice of physical activity, which can alter its quality according to the type of physical activity, intensity and duration. OBJECTIVE: In this context, the present study performed a detailed analysis of the current literature with the objective of verifying the effect of different physical activity on male reproductive health. METHODS: A systematic review performed on the PubMed databases. The items proposed by PRISMA were used for searching, selecting and extracting data. According to the proposed flowchart, 244 articles were indentified and, of these, 12 were selected. RESULTS: Supported by strong clinical evidence, this review shows that intense physical activity can cause strong hormonal changes and impair seminal quality. On the other hand, moderate physical activity seems to have a neutral or beneficial effect on semen quality. In addition, the effect of physical activity on semen quality may differ according to the type of physical activity. CONCLUSION: Faced with the evidence, there is still a lack of solid conclusions on this subject, due to the fact that there is a lot of contradiction between the existing studies and that physical activity can not be easily quantified.

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THE ISSUES OF WORKERS REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROTECTION FROM HARMFUL OCCUPATIONAL END ENVIROMENRAL EXPOSURES

Annals of the Russian academy of medical sciences ◽

10.15690/vramn.v67i12.481 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 67 (12) ◽

pp. 47-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

N. F. Izmerov ◽

O. V. Sivochalova ◽

M. A. Fesenko ◽

E. I. Denisov ◽

G. V. Golovaneva

Keyword(s):

Risk Management ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Occupational Health ◽

Birth Defects ◽

Environmental Exposures ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Health Protection ◽

Medical Surveillance ◽

Demographic Situation ◽

Health Disorders

The problem of workers reproductive health protection from harmful occupational and environmental exposures is amongst the national priorities due to demographic situation in Russia and decrease of the manpower. Some issues of women's reproductive health disorders are considered from occupational health standpoint. The demographic and epidemiological data on pregnancy course and outcome, birth defects, children’s morbidity etc. are presented and discussed. Some proposal as to risk management and medical surveillance of reproductive health, including legal instruments are put forward.

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Environmental anti-androgens and male reproductive health: focus on phthalates and testicular dysgenesis syndrome

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/rep.1.00025 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 127 (3) ◽

pp. 305-315 ◽

Cited By ~ 276

Author(s):

Jane S Fisher

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Phthalate Esters ◽

Male Reproductive Tract ◽

Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome ◽

Geographical Variations ◽

Human Male ◽

Testicular Dysgenesis ◽

Male Reproductive Health

The amount of research into endocrine disruption has exploded over the past decade and a re-evaluation of the state of research in this area is timely. There are debates about whether human male reproductive health is really declining and whether endocrine disrupting chemicals play any role in the perceived decline. Most data currently conclude that there are wide geographical variations in semen quality and in the incidence of testicular cancer, cryptorchidism and hypospadias. This review aims to give a brief overview of the issues surrounding the perceived decline in human male reproductive health and the importance of the hormonal environment for the development of the testis and reproductive tract. The consequences for the male reproductive tract of abnormal androgen levels or action are discussed with reference to environmental anti-androgenic compounds. The in vivo data on several anti-androgenic compounds that have been administered to pregnant rodents during the period of male reproductive tract development are assessed with attention to the effects on the male offspring. Finally, the data on in utero phthalate administration are discussed in detail to illustrate the similarities between the effects of some phthalate esters and the human male reproductive tract disorders which comprise testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS).

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Semen quality and male reproductive health: the controversy about human sperm concentration declineNote

Apmis ◽

10.1034/j.1600-0463.2001.090502.x ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 109 (5) ◽

pp. 333-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Pierre Jouannet ◽

Christina Wang ◽

Florence Eustache ◽

Tina Kold-Jensen ◽

Jacques Auger

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Concentration ◽

Human Sperm ◽

Male Reproductive Health

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Male reproductive health disorders among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men: a hidden problem?

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/mja12.10490 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 198 (1) ◽

pp. 33-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Michael J Adams ◽

Veronica R Collins ◽

Michael P Dunne ◽

David M Kretser ◽

Carol A Holden

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Torres Strait Islander ◽

Health Disorders ◽

Torres Strait ◽

Male Reproductive Health

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Determinants of male reproductive health disorders: the Men in Australia Telephone Survey (MATeS)

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/1471-2458-10-96 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Carol A Holden ◽

Robert I McLachlan ◽

Marian Pitts ◽

Robert Cumming ◽

Gary Wittert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Telephone Survey ◽

Health Disorders ◽

Male Reproductive Health

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Perfluoroalkyl Chemicals and Male Reproductive Health: Do PFOA and PFOS Increase Risk for Male Infertility?

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18073794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (7) ◽

pp. 3794

Author(s):

Pheruza Tarapore ◽

Bin Ouyang

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Model Systems ◽

Human Model ◽

Future Research ◽

Synthetic Chemicals ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Dose Responses ◽

Male Reproductive Health

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are manmade synthetic chemicals which have been in existence for over 70 years. Though they are currently being phased out, their persistence in the environment is widespread. There is increasing evidence linking PFAS exposure to health effects, an issue of concern since PFAS such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) bioaccumulate in humans, with a half-life of years. Many epidemiological studies suggest that, worldwide, semen quality has decreased over the past several decades. One of the most worrying effects of PFOS and PFOA is their associations with lower testosterone levels, similar to clinical observations in infertile men. This review thus focuses on PFOS/PFOA-associated effects on male reproductive health. The sources of PFAS in drinking water are listed. The current epidemiological studies linking increased exposure to PFAS with lowered testosterone and semen quality, and evidence from rodent studies supporting their function as endocrine disruptors on the reproductive system, exhibiting non-monotonic dose responses, are noted. Finally, their mechanisms of action and possible toxic effects on the Leydig, Sertoli, and germ cells are discussed. Future research efforts must consider utilizing better human model systems for exposure, using more accurate PFAS exposure susceptibility windows, and improvements in statistical modeling of data to account for the endocrine disruptor properties of PFAS.

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