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Related Experiment Videos

Does our environment affect our fertility? Some examples to help reframe the question.

Shanna H Swan1

  • 1Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, USA. shanna_swan@urmc.Rochester.edu

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine
|June 29, 2006
PubMed
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Environmental chemicals like pesticides and phthalates are linked to reduced sperm concentration and potential fertility issues in males. Measuring chemical levels in human samples offers a direct way to identify environmental factors impacting fertility.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Reproductive Toxicology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Rising rates of infertility suggest environmental factors may play a role, though establishing direct links has been challenging.
  • Declining sperm counts in Western countries are reported, but the environmental contribution remains debated.
  • Advances in measuring human exposure to environmental chemicals provide new avenues for research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between pesticide exposure and sperm concentration in men.
  • To examine the impact of prenatal phthalate exposure on male genital development and potential future fertility.
  • To highlight the utility of direct measurement of environmental chemicals in human samples for identifying fertility disruptors.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Correlating pesticide concentrations in urine samples with semen analysis results.
  • Assessing subtle differences in genital development in male offspring following prenatal phthalate exposure.
  • Utilizing biomonitoring to quantify human exposure to environmental chemicals.

    • Main Results:

    • Specific pesticides were significantly associated with reduced sperm concentration.
    • Prenatal phthalate exposure was linked to minor genital development variations in male infants, potentially affecting later fertility.
    • Biomonitoring methods are proving effective in identifying environmental agents impacting human fertility.

    Conclusions:

    • Direct measurement of environmental chemicals in human samples is a more persuasive method for identifying fertility disruptors than statistical trend analyses.
    • Pesticides and phthalates are identified as environmental agents potentially impairing male fertility.
    • This research supports the growing understanding of environmental influences on reproductive health.