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Are Male Reproductive Disorders a Common Entity?
Author(s) -
BOISEN K. A.,
MAIN K. M.,
RAJPERTDE MEYTS E.,
SKAKKEBAEK N. E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2001.tb03990.x
Subject(s) - semen quality , epidemiology , sex organ , testicular cancer , reproduction , biology , male infertility , physiology , hypospadias , incidence (geometry) , gynecology , pregnancy , medicine , infertility , semen , genetics , cancer , physics , optics
A bstract : Growing evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies points to a synchronized increase in the incidence of male reproductive problems, such as genital abnormalities, testicular cancer, reduced semen quality, and subfertility. Together these male reproductive problems may reflect the existence of one common entity, a testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). Experimental and epidemiological studies suggest that TDS is a result of disruption of embryonal programming and gonadal development during fetal life. The recent rise in the prevalence of TDS may be causally linked to endocrine disrupters affecting genetically susceptible individuals. We recommend that future epidemiological studies on trends in male reproduction do not focus on one symptom only, but take all aspects of TDS into account. The potential impact of adverse environmental factors and the role of genetic polymorphisms involved in gonadal development requires further research.