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Re: Urine Bisphenol-A (BPA) Level in Relation to Semen Quality
MALE INFERTILITY
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aged 20 –30 years (n ⫽ 617) the total sperm count was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index. Editorial Comment: Investigators in a number of studies have correlated worsening sperm and hormonal parameters to body mass index, although the associations are not perfectly clear-cut. These authors report that multiple regression analysis in a large database demonstrates that the most clear correlation between increasing body mass and decreasing sperm count is found in men 20 to 30 years old. While it is still a bit of a stretch, male fertility may serve as a reason to counsel young men to watch their weight. Craig Niederberger, M.D.
Re: Urine Bisphenol-A (BPA) Level in Relation to Semen Quality D. K. Li, Z. Zhou, M. Miao, Y. He, J. Wang, J. Ferber, L. J. Herrinton, E. Gao and W. Yuan Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California Fertil Steril 2011; 95: 625– 630.
Objective: To determine whether urine bisphenol-A (BPA) levels are associated with lower semen quality. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Four regions in China where high exposure to BPA in the workplace existed. Patient(s): 218 men with and without BPA exposure in the workplace. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen parameters. Result(s): After adjustment for potential confounders using linear regression, increasing urine BPA level was statistically significantly associated with [1] decreased sperm concentration, [2] decreased total sperm count, [3] decreased sperm vitality, and [4] decreased sperm motility. Compared with men who did not have detectable urine BPA levels, those with detectable urine BPA had more than three times the risk of lowered sperm concentration and lower sperm vitality, more than four times the risk of lower sperm count, and more than twice the risk of lower sperm motility. The urine BPA level was not associated with semen volume or abnormal sperm morphology. Similar dose-response associations were observed among men with environmental BPA exposure at levels comparable with those in the U.S population. Despite a markedly reduced sample size, the inverse correlation between increased urine BPA levels and decreased sperm concentration and total sperm count remained statistically significant. Conclusion(s): These results provide the first epidemiologic evidence of an adverse effect of BPA on semen quality. Editorial Comment: Bisphenol-A, a chemical used to make plastics, may function as an estrogenic endocrine disruptor. Investigators have studied perinatal exposure to BPA in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, obesity and neurological dysfunction. These authors report that men working in factories with high BPA exposure had significantly worse bulk seminal parameters than those who were not similarly exposed. These results suggest that at high enough levels BPA may disrupt the endocrine system of adult males. With the evidence mounting that BPA is responsible for an assortment of ills, it is time that we replace this chemical in industrial processes with one that is less toxic. Craig Niederberger, M.D.
Protection From Scrotal Hyperthermia in Laptop Computer Users Y. Sheynkin, R. Welliver, A. Winer, F. Hajimirzaee, H. Ahn and K. Lee Department of Urology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York Fertil Steril 2011; 95: 647– 651.
Objective: To evaluate methods of prevention of scrotal hyperthermia in laptop computer (LC) users. Design: Experimental study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Twenty-nine healthy male
1415
aged 20 –30 years (n ⫽ 617) the total sperm count was significantly negatively correlated with body mass index. Editorial Comment: Investigators in a number of studies have correlated worsening sperm and hormonal parameters to body mass index, although the associations are not perfectly clear-cut. These authors report that multiple regression analysis in a large database demonstrates that the most clear correlation between increasing body mass and decreasing sperm count is found in men 20 to 30 years old. While it is still a bit of a stretch, male fertility may serve as a reason to counsel young men to watch their weight. Craig Niederberger, M.D.
Re: Urine Bisphenol-A (BPA) Level in Relation to Semen Quality D. K. Li, Z. Zhou, M. Miao, Y. He, J. Wang, J. Ferber, L. J. Herrinton, E. Gao and W. Yuan Division of Research, Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California Fertil Steril 2011; 95: 625– 630.
Objective: To determine whether urine bisphenol-A (BPA) levels are associated with lower semen quality. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Four regions in China where high exposure to BPA in the workplace existed. Patient(s): 218 men with and without BPA exposure in the workplace. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen parameters. Result(s): After adjustment for potential confounders using linear regression, increasing urine BPA level was statistically significantly associated with [1] decreased sperm concentration, [2] decreased total sperm count, [3] decreased sperm vitality, and [4] decreased sperm motility. Compared with men who did not have detectable urine BPA levels, those with detectable urine BPA had more than three times the risk of lowered sperm concentration and lower sperm vitality, more than four times the risk of lower sperm count, and more than twice the risk of lower sperm motility. The urine BPA level was not associated with semen volume or abnormal sperm morphology. Similar dose-response associations were observed among men with environmental BPA exposure at levels comparable with those in the U.S population. Despite a markedly reduced sample size, the inverse correlation between increased urine BPA levels and decreased sperm concentration and total sperm count remained statistically significant. Conclusion(s): These results provide the first epidemiologic evidence of an adverse effect of BPA on semen quality. Editorial Comment: Bisphenol-A, a chemical used to make plastics, may function as an estrogenic endocrine disruptor. Investigators have studied perinatal exposure to BPA in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer, obesity and neurological dysfunction. These authors report that men working in factories with high BPA exposure had significantly worse bulk seminal parameters than those who were not similarly exposed. These results suggest that at high enough levels BPA may disrupt the endocrine system of adult males. With the evidence mounting that BPA is responsible for an assortment of ills, it is time that we replace this chemical in industrial processes with one that is less toxic. Craig Niederberger, M.D.
Protection From Scrotal Hyperthermia in Laptop Computer Users Y. Sheynkin, R. Welliver, A. Winer, F. Hajimirzaee, H. Ahn and K. Lee Department of Urology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York Fertil Steril 2011; 95: 647– 651.
Objective: To evaluate methods of prevention of scrotal hyperthermia in laptop computer (LC) users. Design: Experimental study. Setting: University hospital. Patient(s): Twenty-nine healthy male