Environmental Exposures: Impact on Male Fertility

Abstract

It is recognised that male health has a significant impact on male reproductive capacity. These health-related associations may begin before birth. For instance, a man’s sperm count is negatively impacted if his mother smoked during pregnancy, and health trajectories through childhood and adolescence into adulthood may influence male reproductive capacity in later life. Further, other factors such as the age of man at the time of conception may influence the health of their offspring. Of further relevance is the fact that studies have shown a relationship between adult reproductive function and longer-term health outcomes. For instance, adverse associations have been demonstrated between most semen parameters, and other markers of testicular function, with the presence of metabolic syndrome. It has further been shown that there exist an association between erectile dysfunction and future adverse cardiovascular events.