[Environmental factors on male fertility]

The fact that the incidence of infertile marriages is on the increase throughout the world has stimulated a greater interest in identifying possible effects of the environment on the fertility of both man and woman. Over the last 50 years, the average number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate has decreased by about a half. The present review takes a look at recognized noxae and their effect on fertility, with the aim of providing clinically active physicians with up-to-date information about the major noxious substances, thus enabling them to be avoided.