Male Fertility in Hot Environment-Reply

Abstract

In Reply.— The comments of Dr Levine are appreciated and merit serious consideration in view of his careful research and many publications on the subject of environmental influences on human reproductive functions. There is no disagreement that hyperthermia causes a dose-related adverse effect on spermatogenesis in man. With modest, brief heat applications, ie, enough to cause a half-hour rise in testicular temperatures of 3 to 5 °C repeatedly, there is a decrease in sperm counts after two to three weeks that persists for several weeks. This is followed in about three months by a rebound to sperm count levels considerably above the pre—heat treatment levels.1,2The work of Rock and Robinson referred to by Dr Levine was research into possible therapy for oligospermic men. This group also used a specially constructed insulated and snug-fitting scrotal sac worn almost constantly for several weeks and achieved a decrease in the scrotal-rectal