Deteriorating Semen Quality: The Role of the Environment

Helena E. Virtanen; Wiwat Rodprasert; Jorma Toppari

doi:10.1055/s-0044-1782151

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, Table of Contents

Semin Reprod Med 2023; 41(06): 226-240
DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1782151

Review Article

Deteriorating Semen Quality: The Role of the Environment

Helena E. Virtanen

¹Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology and Centre for Population Health Research, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

,

Wiwat Rodprasert

¹Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology and Centre for Population Health Research, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

,

Jorma Toppari

¹Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology and Centre for Population Health Research, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

²Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

³Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital—Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

⁴Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital—Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Since the end of the last century, several reports have suggested that semen quality is declining, especially in Western countries. Furthermore, cross-sectional studies using similar protocols have suggested regional differences in semen quality of young and fertile men. Reasons for these regional differences and local adverse trends in semen quality are unknown, but environmental factors are suspected to have a role. Besides adulthood environmental exposures, those occurring during testicular development may also affect semen quality. Longitudinal follow-up studies and mixture risk analyses are needed to study the effect of fetal, childhood, and adult life environment on semen quality.

Keywords

semen quality - environment - endocrine disrupting chemical

Full Text

References

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