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Environment International Mar 2023Potential adverse effects of non-optimum temperatures on human semen quality have drawn much concern worldwide; however, the exposure-response relationship remains less...
BACKGROUND
Potential adverse effects of non-optimum temperatures on human semen quality have drawn much concern worldwide; however, the exposure-response relationship remains less understood.
OBJECTIVES
To quantitatively assess the association between exposure to ambient temperature and semen quality in South China, and to identify potential critical exposure windows.
METHODS
We conducted a longitudinal study to investigate 11,050 volunteers who lived in Guangdong province, China and intended to donate sperm in the Guangdong provincial human sperm bank during 2016-2021. Exposure to ambient temperature during 0-90 days before semen collection was assessed by extracting daily temperatures from a validated grid dataset at each subject's residential address. Linear mixed models and linear regression models were used to perform exposure-response analyses.
RESULTS
During the study period, the 11,050 subjects underwent 44,564 semen analyses. Each 5 °C increase of lag 0-90 day exposure to ambient temperature was approximately linearly associated with a 3.11 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.08, 4.14) × 10/ml, 9.31 (4.83, 13.80) × 10, 1.27 % (0.91 %, 1.62 %), 8.20 (5.33, 11.08) × 10, 1.37 % (1.01 %, 1.74 %), 8.29 (5.52, 11.06) × 10, 0.67 % (0.28 %, 1.05 %), and 4.50 (2.20, 6.80) × 10 reduction in sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, total motile sperm number, progressive motility, total progressive sperm number, normal forms, and total normal form sperm number, respectively (all p < 0.001), which was not significantly modified by age (all p for effect modification > 0.05). We identified a critical exposure period of 10-14 days before semen collection for sperm motility, and 70-90 days before semen collection for sperm count and morphology.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides consistent evidence that higher ambient temperature was significantly associated with a reduction in semen quality in South China. The findings highlight the needs to reduce high temperature exposures during 3 months before ejaculation to maintain better semen quality.
Topics: Humans; Male; Semen Analysis; Temperature; Semen; Longitudinal Studies; Sperm Motility; Sperm Count; Spermatozoa; China
PubMed: 36805156
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107809 -
Reproductive Biomedicine Online Mar 2021What are the risks associated with cryopreserved semen collected during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in Wuhan, China?
RESEARCH QUESTION
What are the risks associated with cryopreserved semen collected during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in Wuhan, China?
DESIGN
Retrospective cohort study involving young adult men who were qualified sperm donors at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank (China) during the pandemic wave (1 January 2020 to 30 January 2020) and after the wave and return to work (7 April 2020 to 30 May 30 2020). One hundred paired semen and blood specimens from 100 donors were included. One-step single-tube nested quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (OSN-qRT-PCR) was used to detect SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, to control the unacceptable risk of false-negative results, a second round of screening was performed with pooled RNA from negative semen samples using crystal digital PCR (cd-PCR).
RESULTS
For individual blood and semen samples, the target genes, namely the nucleocapsid protein (N) and open reading frame (ORF-1ab) genes, tested negative in all of the 100 paired samples. Further, as per cd-PCR results, there were >20,000 droplets per well in the RNA for each combined sample and no positive droplets were present for either of the aforementioned target genes. A total of 100 paired semen and blood samples from these two groups tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.
CONCLUSIONS
Cryopreserved semen at the Hunan Province Human Sperm Bank during and after the COVID-19 pandemic wave was free of SARS-CoV-2 and was judged safe for external use in the future.
Topics: COVID-19; China; Humans; Male; Pandemics; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Retrospective Studies; SARS-CoV-2; Semen; Sperm Banks; Spermatozoa; Young Adult
PubMed: 33384268
DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2020.11.015 -
Journal of Endocrinological... Sep 2022Adolescence represents an important window for gonadal development. The aim of this review is to carry out a critical excursus of the most recent literature on... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
Adolescence represents an important window for gonadal development. The aim of this review is to carry out a critical excursus of the most recent literature on endogenous and exogenous risk factors related to testicular function, focusing the research on adolescence period.
METHODS
A comprehensive literature search within PubMed was performed to provide a summary of currently available evidence regarding the impact on adolescence of varicocele, cryptorchidism, cancer, diabetes, lifestyle factors, endocrine disruptors, obesity and sexually transmitted diseases. We focused on human studies that evaluated a possible impact of these factors on puberty timing and their effects on andrological health.
RESULTS
Evidence collected seems to suggest that andrological health in adolescence may be impaired by several factors, as varicocele, cryptorchidism, and childhood cancer. Despite an early diagnosis and treatment, many adolescents might still have symptoms and sign of a testicular dysfunction in their adult life and at the current time it is not possible to predict which of them will experience andrological problems. Lifestyle factors might have a role in these discrepancies. Most studies point out towards a correlation between obesity, insulin resistance, alcohol, smoking, use of illegal drugs and testicular function in pubertal boys. Also, endocrine disruptors and sexually transmitted diseases might contribute to impair reproductive health, but more studies in adolescents are needed.
CONCLUSION
According to currently available evidence, there is an emerging global adverse trend of high-risk and unhealthy behaviors in male adolescents. A significant proportion of young men with unsuspected and undiagnosed andrological disorders engage in behaviors that could impair testicular development and function, with an increased risk for later male infertility and/or hypogonadism during the adult life. Therefore, adolescence should be considered a key time for intervention and prevention of later andrological diseases.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Cryptorchidism; Endocrine Disruptors; Humans; Male; Obesity; Risk Factors; Testis; Varicocele
PubMed: 35286610
DOI: 10.1007/s40618-022-01769-8 -
Translational Andrology and Urology Oct 2023Sperm banking refers to the collection and storage of sperm cells for future use. Despite the recommendations of major medical societies, sperm banking is not discussed...
BACKGROUND
Sperm banking refers to the collection and storage of sperm cells for future use. Despite the recommendations of major medical societies, sperm banking is not discussed sufficiently with patients at risk of future fertility. Majority of Americans utilize the internet regarding health information. The aim of this study is to assess the reading level and the quality of online health information on sperm banking.
METHODS
The top 50 search results from Google, Bing, and Yahoo were selected after searching for the term "sperm banking". Duplicate pages, advertisements, news and magazines, blog posts, videos, paid subscriptions, articles intended for health professionals, and non-related pages were excluded. Four validated readability and two quality assessment tools were used to score the text. Websites were divided into five categories: academic, hospital-affiliated, commercial, non-profit health advocacy, and non-categorized. Descriptive statistics, one sample -test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data.
RESULTS
Forty-one webpages were included. The mean Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) for all pages was 46.9/100 and the mean reading level was 11th grade, compared to the recommended 6th grade level, across various assessment tools. Utilizing the DISCERN Instrument, quality of online health information was fair. Seven percent of pages received a "good" quality score and no pages received a score of "excellent". On average, 1.5 out of 4 criteria categorized by the JAMA Benchmark, a validated quality assessment tool, were met. The hospital-affiliated webpages received the best reading scores and commercial pages received the highest quality scores.
CONCLUSIONS
Online health information on sperm banking available in English is of poor quality based on several quality assessment tools and at a reading level significantly higher than what is recommended. Further efforts are needed by providers and healthcare institutions to improve the quality of information available to patients.
PubMed: 37969777
DOI: 10.21037/tau-23-120 -
Open Veterinary Journal 2022The mouse model of human diseases is commonly used for biomedical study, including β-thalassemia (β-thal), an inherited hemoglobin disorder. Maintaining the mice...
BACKGROUND
The mouse model of human diseases is commonly used for biomedical study, including β-thalassemia (β-thal), an inherited hemoglobin disorder. Maintaining the mice strain by natural mating systems is costly and seems impractical, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sperm-freezing is a cost-effective solution for β-thal mouse colony management.
AIM
To determine appropriate cryopreservation media for β-thal mouse spermatozoa to establish a β-thal mouse sperm bank.
METHODS
The epididymal spermatozoa of C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and β-globin gene knockout thalassemia (BKO) mice were frozen in four freezing media: I) raffinose-skim milk-monothioglycerol (MTG), II) raffinose-skim milk-glutamine, III) raffinose-egg yolk-glycerol, and IV) egg yolk-TES-Tris. The sperm quality was assessed prior to and following freeze-thawing.
RESULTS
Compared with WT counterparts, the viable spermatozoa before freezing exhibiting elevated levels of oxidative stress were significantly greater in BKO ( = 0.01). After thawing, the membrane integrity of BKO spermatozoa preserved in I was significantly lower ( = 0.001). The sperm viability and membrane integrity of BKO males were also inferior when media III and IV were used ( = 0.008-0.027). The amount of oxidative stress in the spermatozoon of BKO mice was significantly greater when preserved in I, III, and IV ( = 0.002-0.044). Comparing freezing media, the motility and acrosome integrity of WT and BKO spermatozoa preserved in IV were significantly higher than those in other media ( < 0.001 to = 0.01). Spermatozoa with the highest mitochondrial membrane potential were observed in I in both genotypes ( = 0.012 to > 0.05). The viability, membrane integrity, and oxidative stress of post-thaw BKO spermatozoa did not significantly differ among freezing solutions.
CONCLUSION
Irrespective of freezing media, spermatozoa of BKO males are rather more sensitive to cryopreservation than those of WT. Raffinose-skim milk-MTG/glutamine, raffinose-egg yolk-glycerol, and egg yolk-TES-Tris can all be used to preserve BKO mouse spermatozoa. However, with slightly better sperm characteristics, egg yolk-TES-Tris may be a diluent of choice for BKO mouse sperm cryopreservation. The addition of a reducing agent to thawing media is also strongly recommended to efficiently prevent oxidative stress and therefore improve frozen-thawed sperm survival.
Topics: Male; Mice; Animals; Humans; Glycerol; beta-Thalassemia; Glutamine; Pandemics; Raffinose; Cryoprotective Agents; Sperm Motility; Mice, Inbred C57BL; COVID-19; Spermatozoa; Cryopreservation
PubMed: 36589404
DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i5.2 -
Life (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023Primary Bladder Neck Obstruction (PBNO) management provides medical and surgical treatment, such as transurethral incisions that can lead to retrograde ejaculation. The...
Primary Bladder Neck Obstruction (PBNO) management provides medical and surgical treatment, such as transurethral incisions that can lead to retrograde ejaculation. The aim of this study was to investigate the maintenance of anterograde ejaculation and semen quality before and after this surgical procedure. A retrospective evaluation was carried out between 2011 and 2020. A total of 73 patients diagnosed with PBNO were recruited. Ejaculatory function, semen quality, and the fertility of recruited subjects were evaluated. Semen parameters-Baseline, 8.2% of patients were oligozoospermic and 12.3% had a semen volume below the WHO 2010 fifth percentile. Post-surgery, 20% of patients were oligozoospermic. We detected a significant decrease in total sperm number, a significant increase in the number of abnormal forms, and a reduction in the leukocyte concentration. Ejaculatory function-A total of 7.7% of patients reported anejaculation after transurethral incision of the bladder neck. Fertility-9.2% of the patients already had children before surgery; 13.8% had naturally conceived children in the years following surgery; 76.9% had no desire for paternity at the time. Our data have important implications for sperm bank management. The alterations in semen parameters and the risk of anejaculation suggest that the use of sperm cryopreservation before surgery for PBNO should be encouraged.
PubMed: 36983997
DOI: 10.3390/life13030842 -
The Journal of Urology Jun 1997We determined the prevalence of requests for postmortem sperm procurement and the degree to which procurement is performed by those working in the field of infertility.
PURPOSE
We determined the prevalence of requests for postmortem sperm procurement and the degree to which procurement is performed by those working in the field of infertility.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Structured telephone interviews were conducted with personnel at 273 assisted reproductive facilities in the United States and Canada. The number of facilities reporting requests and the number of facilities reporting that they performed the procedure were determined.
RESULTS
The prevalence of requests for postmortem sperm procurement was much greater than initially anticipated. A total of 82 requests was reported at 40 facilities in 22 different states between 1980 and 1995. More than half of the reported requests (43) were made between 1994 and 1995. Of the 82 requests 25 were honored at 14 facilities in 11 different states. No requests or procedures were reported from Canada.
CONCLUSIONS
Medical advances in postmortem sperm procurement, cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization permit retrieval of sperm after death for various purposes, including posthumous fatherhood. There are no explicit ethical guidelines, legislation or relevant case law, and fertility specialists must confront these issues before proceeding in a field fraught with moral and policy uncertainties.
Topics: Cadaver; Ethics Committees, Clinical; Humans; Posthumous Conception; Sperm Banks; Spermatozoa; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 9146605
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Jul 2022To examine the effect of the BNT162b, mRNA, SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine on sperm quality.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of the BNT162b, mRNA, SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine on sperm quality.
METHODS
This was a prospective cohort study conducted on sperm donors at the sperm bank of a tertiary, university affiliated medical center. All sperm donors donated sperm repeatedly and the average sperm parameters of all available samples were compared before and after receiving the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Each donor served as his own control. For all participants, at-least one sperm sample was received 72 days after completing the second vaccine. Main outcome measures included total sperm count, total motile count and percent of motile sperm.
RESULTS
A total of 898 sperm samples from 33 sperm donors that were vaccinated with the Pfizer BNT162b, mRNA, SARS-CoV-2 virus vaccine were analyzed, 425 samples were received before the vaccine, while 473 samples were received after vaccination. Total sperm count and total motile count increased after the second vaccine compared to samples before vaccination. Percent of motile sperm did not change after vaccine.
CONCLUSION
The Pfizer BNT162b, SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has no deleterious effect on sperm quality. Patients and physicians should be counseled accordingly.
Topics: COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Male; Prospective Studies; RNA, Messenger; SARS-CoV-2; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 35128663
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14135 -
Reproductive Medicine and Biology Jul 2017Testicular cancer (TC) is one of the most common malignancies in young men of reproductive age. Although TC is a curable malignancy with a high survival rate, its... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Testicular cancer (TC) is one of the most common malignancies in young men of reproductive age. Although TC is a curable malignancy with a high survival rate, its treatment requires various cytotoxic modalities and negatively impacts spermatogenesis; therefore, the fertility preservation of patients with TC has been studied.
METHODS
In order to give an overview of fertility preservation in patients with TC, the literature was reviewed. Original and review articles were identified and examined on the basis of PubMed database searches.
RESULTS
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy damage spermatogenesis and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection negatively impacts ejaculatory function. Testicular sperm extraction facilitates successful sperm retrieval in patients with TC with postchemotherapy azoospermia. Although preserved sperm is used with a very low frequency (8%), the conception rates in those who have used sperm are not inferior.
CONCLUSION
The number of studies is limited, and because numerous treatment factors affect fertility, outstanding questions remain about preserving the fertility of patients with TC. Further studies are necessary in order to determine the best means of preventing and treating infertility in patients with TC.
PubMed: 29259474
DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12037 -
Journal of Law and the Biosciences Dec 2016Most sperm donation that occurs in the USA proceeds through anonymous donation. While some clinics make the identity of the sperm donor available to a donor-conceived...
Most sperm donation that occurs in the USA proceeds through anonymous donation. While some clinics make the identity of the sperm donor available to a donor-conceived child at age 18 as part of 'open identification' or 'identity release programs,' no US law requires clinics to do so, and the majority of individuals do not use these programs. By contrast, in many parts of the world, there have been significant legislative initiatives requiring that sperm donor identities be made available to children after a certain age (typically when the child turns 18). One major concern with prohibiting anonymous sperm donation has been that the number of willing sperm donors will decrease leading to shortages, as have been experienced in some of the countries that have prohibited sperm donor anonymity. One possible solution, suggested by prior work, would be to pay current anonymous sperm donors more per donation to continue to donate when their anonymity is removed. Using a unique sample of current anonymous and open identity sperm donors from a large sperm bank in the USA, we test that approach. As far as we know, this is the first attempt to examine what would happen if the USA adopted a prohibition on anonymous sperm donation that used the most ecologically valid population, current sperm donors. We find that 29% of current anonymous sperm donors in the sample would refuse to donate if the law changed such that they were required to put their names in a registry available to donor-conceived children at age 18. When we look at the remaining sperm donors who would be willing to participate, we find that they would demand an additional $60 per donation (using our preferred specification). We also discuss the ramifications for the industry.
PubMed: 28852536
DOI: 10.1093/jlb/lsw052