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Association between urinary bisphenol A concentrations and semen quality: A meta-analytic study
Chiara Castellini1, Mario Muselli2, Antonio Parisi1
1Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Public Health, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
Biochemical Pharmacology
|December 30, 2021
Summary
This meta-analysis found no significant clinical link between bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and overall semen quality in men. While initial results suggested a weak negative association with sperm motility, this finding was not robust upon further analysis.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Reproductive Toxicology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Preclinical studies suggest bisphenol A (BPA) disrupts male reproductive functions.
- Clinical studies on BPA exposure and semen quality have yielded inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis to determine the association between urinary BPA levels and semen quality in men.
- To quantify the extent of this association using data from available clinical studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.
- Inclusion of studies reporting multivariable linear regression analyses of urinary BPA and semen parameters.
- Meta-analysis of data from nine studies involving 2,399 men.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant negative association between urinary BPA levels and sperm motility was initially observed (pooled β = -0.82).
- This significance was lost after adjusting for publication bias and in sensitivity analyses excluding key studies.
- Overall estimates indicate a clinically negligible association between BPA concentrations and semen quality.
Conclusions:
- Current clinical evidence suggests minimal to no clinically significant association between urinary BPA levels and semen quality.
- Further research is recommended, particularly in populations with high occupational BPA exposure, to investigate potential weak correlations.
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