Occupational and environmental risk factors in male infertility

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dc.contributor.advisorLove, Edgar J.
dc.contributor.authorBigelow, Philip Lloyd
dc.coverage.spatial2000003353en
dc.date.accessioned2005-08-05T16:58:52Z
dc.date.available2005-08-05T16:58:52Z
dc.date.issued1992
dc.descriptionBibliography: p. 326-341.en
dc.description.abstractThe effects of occupational, environmental, and recreational exposures on semen quality were investigated in a retrospective study of 1060 men who provided semen specimens at an infertility clinic in Calgary, Alberta. In analyses using continuous dependent variables, men who had reported varicocele, vasectomy, testicular injury, kidney infection, and the use of medications that were found to have an adverse effect on semen quality were excluded. In the case—control analysis, only varicocele and testicular injury were significantly more common in the case group, OR=2.8 and OR=2.3, respectively, and in later analyses men reporting these conditions were excluded. The consumption of caffeine was associated with statistically significant improvements in numerous parameters of semen, including sperm concentration, total sperm count, motile sperm concentration, and the percentage of normal forms, and was included as a control variable along with smoking, length of sexual abstinence, age, and season in which the specimen was provided. Seasonal variations in semen quality were observed in the data and specimens produced in the summer months had a significantly lower mean sperm concentration than those provided at other times of the year. The findings provided evidence to support the hypothesis that outdoor temperature was associated with variations in the values of sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total motile count. Occupational factors that may have increased testicular temperature, such as sitting, driving, heavy physical work, exposure to heat, and work in hot occupations, were not associated with significant changes in the values of any seminal parameters. When an index that incorporated both exposures to factors that likely raised and those that likely lowered testicular temperature was used, the means of sperm concentration, total sperm count, motile sperm concentration, and total motile count were significantly higher in the group exposed to activities that likely caused testicular hypothermia. The findings from the study were reassuring in terms of exposure to male reproductive hR72rds in the workplace. No specific activities, occupations, or occupational exposures were associated with impairment of semen quality in the population studied.en
dc.format.extentxvii, 368 leaves ; 30 cm.en
dc.identifier.citationBigelow, P. L. (1992). Occupational and environmental risk factors in male infertility (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/12367en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/12367
dc.identifier.isbn0315830999en
dc.identifier.lccRC 889 B54 1992en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/31246
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.publisher.placeCalgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject.lccRC 889 B54 1992en
dc.subject.lcshInfertility, male
dc.titleOccupational and environmental risk factors in male infertility
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineCommunity Health Sciences
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrue
ucalgary.thesis.notesoffsiteen
ucalgary.thesis.uarcreleaseyen
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