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Related Concept Videos

Infertility in Males01:23

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Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, arising from various factors that impact different stages of the reproductive process. An endocrine imbalance resulting from conditions like hypogonadism, Klinefelter syndrome, or pituitary disorders can disrupt hormone levels and reduce sperm production. Testicular defects, such as tumors, cryptorchidism, atrophic testes, abnormal sperm morphology, and low sperm count or motility, may arise due to genetic factors, structural...
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Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male...
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Menopause, a natural biological process marking the end of a woman's fertility, typically occurs between the fifth and sixth decade of life. This phase is characterized by the exhaustion of the ovarian follicle pool, leading to less responsive ovaries despite the high levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). The consequential decrease in estrogen production results in symptoms like hot flashes, heavy sweating, headaches, hair loss, muscle pains, vaginal...
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Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
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Female infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after a year of regular, unprotected intercourse and affects about 10–15% of couples worldwide. The primary cause of female infertility is ovulatory disorders, which hinder the release of eggs. These disorders can be classified as hypothalamic amenorrhea, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian failure, and hyperprolactinemic anovulation disorders.
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Environmental interference and declining male fertility.

Richard G Lea1

  • 1School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, Sutton Bonington Campus, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 6RD UK.

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Summary

Human male fertility may be declining due to environmental factors, not just lifestyle. A study on dogs showed similar sperm quality drops, suggesting shared environmental causes for declining male reproductive health.

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Environmental science
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Human male fertility has shown a temporal decline in sperm counts between 1934 and 2018.
  • While lifestyle factors affect sperm quality, environmental influences are suspected as a primary cause.
  • Meta-analytical studies on human sperm counts require statistical control for laboratory variations and other confounders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the contention that environmental factors are responsible for the observed decline in male fertility.
  • To investigate the potential of shared environmental influences on both human and canine sperm quality.

Main Methods:

  • Review of meta-analytical studies on human sperm counts.
  • Analysis of sperm motility data from a population of stud dogs over 26 years.
  • Comparison of temporal trends in sperm quality between humans and dogs.

Main Results:

  • A 30% decline in sperm motility was observed in stud dogs over 26 years.
  • Dogs share similar household environments with humans, suggesting potential for shared environmental exposures.
  • The study postulates that environmental interference may be a common factor in declining sperm quality in both species.

Conclusions:

  • Environmental factors may play a significant role in the decline of male fertility in both humans and dogs.
  • Further research is warranted to identify specific environmental toxicants or disruptors affecting male reproductive health.
  • Understanding these environmental impacts is crucial for addressing male infertility concerns.