Parental Separation and Semen Quality in Young Men: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive endocrinology
• Andrology
• Developmental psychology

Background:

• Parental separation is a significant life stressor.
• Stress can disrupt hormonal regulation affecting reproductive health.
• Semen quality in young men may be influenced by early life experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between parental separation and semen quality in young men.
• To determine if the timing of parental separation during childhood influences semen quality.
• To examine the impact of separation during pregnancy versus childhood.

Main Methods:

• Follow-up study of 1058 young men (born 1998-2000) from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort.
• Longitudinal self-reported data on parental separation (pregnancy, childhood timing).
• Analysis of semen volume, concentration, total count, motility, morphology, and testes volume using multivariable regression.

Main Results:

• Parental separation during pregnancy showed no association with semen quality.
• Separation from birth linked to increased semen volume, total sperm count, and normal morphology.
• Separation in early childhood (0-5 years) associated with decreased semen volume, concentration, total sperm count, and testes volume.

Conclusions:

• The timing of parental separation is a critical factor in its effect on semen quality.
• Early childhood separation (0-5 years) is associated with poorer semen quality outcomes.
• Separation from birth may be linked to enhanced semen quality parameters.