Recent adverse trends in semen quality and testis cancer incidence among Finnish men

N Jørgensen,N E Skakkebæk,E Pukkala,A Perheentupa,J Toppari,M Vierula,H E Virtanen,R Jacobsen

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2605.2010.01133.x

Abstract

Impaired semen quality and testicular cancer may be linked through a testicular dysgenesis syndrome of foetal origin. The incidence of testis cancer has been shown to increase among Finnish men, whereas there is no recent publication describing temporal trends in semen quality. Therefore, we carried out a prospective semen quality study and a registry study of testis cancer incidence among Finnish men to explore recent trends. A total of 858 men were investigated in the semen quality study during 1998–2006. Median sperm concentrations were 67 (95% CI 57–80) million/mL, 60 (51–71) and 48 (39–60) for birth cohorts 1979–81, 1982–83 and 1987; total sperm counts 227 (189–272) million, 202 (170–240) and 165 (132–207); total number of morphologically normal spermatozoa 18 (14–23) million, 15 (12–19) and 11 (8–15). Men aged 10–59 years at the time of diagnosis with testicular cancer during 1954–2008 were included in the registry study, which confirmed the increasing incidence of testicular cancer in recent cohorts. These simultaneous and rapidly occurring adverse trends suggest that the underlying causes are environmental and, as such, preventable. Our findings necessitate not only further surveillance of male reproductive health but also research to detect and remove the underlying factors.

Highlights

Testis cancer rates have increased in western countries with significant variations between countries (Chia et al, 2010; Engholm et al, 2010)
Impaired semen quality and testicular cancer may be linked through a testicular dysgenesis syndrome of foetal origin
The incidence of testis cancer has been shown to increase among Finnish men, whereas there is no recent publication describing temporal trends in semen quality

Summary

Introduction

Testis cancer rates have increased in western countries with significant variations between countries (Chia et al, 2010; Engholm et al, 2010). Testis cancer and other male reproductive problems including impaired semen quality have been suggested to be linked through a testicular dysgenesis syndrome of foetal origin due to impact of environmental factors (Skakkebæk et al, 2001). Such reproductive health problems may be related to year of birth, not manifested until adulthood. A question is whether the reported better reproductive health of Finnish men could be due to different environmental exposures or caused by genetic differences. We carried out semen studies on cohorts of young Finnish men, and a registry study of testis cancer to explore recent temporal trends

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion