Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects
Marwa Lahimer, Abou Diwan M , Debbie Montjean
Véronique Bach, Mounir Ajina, Habib Ben Ali, Ben Ali H , Moncef Benkhalifa, Hafida Khorsi‐Cauet , Maria Abou Diwan , Rosalie Cabry , Hafida Khorsi-Cauet
The deleterious effects of chemical or non-chemical endocrine disruptors (EDs) on male fertility potential is well documented but still not fully elucidated. For example, the detection of industrial chemicals' metabolites in seminal plasma and follicular fluid can affect efficiency of the gametogenesis, the maturation and competency of gametes and has guided scientists to hypothesize that endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may disrupt hormonal homoeostasis by leading to a wide range of hormonal control impairments. The effects of EDCs exposure on reproductive health are highly dependent on factors including the type of EDCs, the duration of exposure, individual susceptibility, and the presence of other co-factors. Research and scientists continue to study these complex interactions. The aim of this review is to summarize the literature to better understand the potential reproductive health risks of EDCs in France.
endocrine disrupting chemicals male fertility review, EDCs spermatogenesis testicular function disruption, Lahimer Montjean endocrine disruptors male fertility, bisphenol phthalate pesticide male reproductive toxicity, environmental chemicals sperm quality testosterone decline, Frontiers Public Health EDC male fertility 2023, xenoestrogen anti-androgen male reproductive health, endocrine disruptor mechanism testicular damage review, environmental pollutants male infertility pathways
PMID 37886048 37886048 DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232646 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232646
Cite this article
Lahimer, M., Diwan, M. A., Montjean, D., Cabry, R., Bach, V., ajina, M., Ali, H., Moncef, B., & Khorsi‐Cauet, H. (2023). Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects. Frontiers in public health, 11, 1232646. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232646
Lahimer M, Diwan MA, Montjean D, Cabry R, Bach V, ajina M, et al. Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1232646. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2023.1232646
Lahimer, Marwa, et al. "Endocrine disrupting chemicals and male fertility: from physiological to molecular effects." Frontiers in public health, vol. 11, 2023, pp. 1232646.
Global fertility rates are declining. In China, the total fertility rate dropped sharply from 5.59 in 1971 to 1.15 in 2021. Chinese university students often lack adequate fertility awareness, yet no validated instrument exists to assess this construct in this population, despite its recognized importance for informed reproductive decision-making. The Fertility Awareness Scale for University Students (FASUS) was developed through literature search, semi-structured interviews, and two rounds of Delphi expert consultation. Psychometric properties were tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach's α, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability. A cross-sectional survey of 750 students examined fertility awareness levels and influencing factors via univariate analysis and multiple linear regression. The final FASUS Scale consisted of 22 fertility-related knowledge, reproductive health attitudes, and reproductive health skills, with a cumulative variance contribution rate of 67.952%. The scale demonstrated strong reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.97, split-half reliability = 0.885, test-retest reliability = 0.981). A survey of 750 students revealed an average fertility awareness score of 78.01 ± 16.44, indicating a low to moderate level. Key influencing factors included gender, ethnicity, education level, only-child status, and prior fertility knowledge education. This study utilized a self-developed scale to assess fertility awareness among Chinese university students. The results showed that the fertility awareness level of Chinese university students was generally low. We suggest that health care institutions implement targeted intervention measures to improve reproductive health outcomes.
Infertility has been confirmed as a significant medical and social problem. Heavy metal exposure refers to a risk factor for infertility, which is capable of damaging the reproductive system of males and females. However, heavy metal exposure and female infertility have rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between heavy metal exposure and female infertility. A cross-sectional study using data from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2013-2018) was performed. Female infertility was evaluated by positive responses to question rhq074 in the questionnaire. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) levels in blood or urine were examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The correlation between heavy metal and female infertility was analyzed through weighted logistic regression. A total of 838 American women aged 20-44 years were covered in the study. Among all participants, 112 (13.37%) women were subjected to infertility. Urinary Cd and urinary As levels were significantly higher in infertile women than in control women (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Urinary As showed a positive correlation with the prevalence of female infertility, and the risk of infertility rose with the increase of urinary As levels (P for trend = 0.045). Urinary Cd was associated with female infertility in some weighted logistic regression (Crude, Q2: OR = 3.99, 95% CI 1.82, 8.74, Q3: OR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.42, 5.92. Model 1, Q2: OR = 3.68, 95% CI 1.64, 8.27, Q3: OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.13, 4.48. Model 2, Q2: OR = 4.11, 95% CI 1.63, 10.07, Q3: OR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.07, 5.53. Model 3, Q2: OR = 3.77, 95% CI 1.52, 9.35). Moreover, blood Pb (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.07, 2.16), urinary Pb (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.11, 2.55), and urinary As (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.03) were positively correlated with the risk of infertility in women aged 35-44 years. The blood Pb (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.16, 2.40, 2.49) and urinary Pb (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.00, 2.38) in women with BMI ≥25 were positively correlated with the risk of infertility. Urinary As was significantly associated with female infertility, and the risk of infertility increased with higher urinary As levels. To some extent, urinary Cd was correlated with infertility. Blood/urine Pb was related to infertility in advanced age and overweight/obese women. The results of this study need to be further validated in future prospective studies.
Media outlets influence social attitudes toward health habits. The analysis of tweets has become a tool for health researchers. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of tweets about women's health and the interest generated among Twitter users. We investigated tweets posted by 25 major U.S. media outlets about pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women's health between January 2009 and December 2019 as well as the retweets generated. In addition, we measured the sentiment analysis of these tweets as well as their potential dissemination. A total of 376 tweets were analyzed. Pre-menopausal women's health accounted for most of the tweets (75.3%). Contraception was the main focus of the tweets, while a very limited number were related to infertility (1.4%). With regard to medical content, the effectiveness of contraceptive methods was the most frequent topic (46.2%). However, tweets related to side effects achieved the highest retweet-to-tweet ratio (70.3). The analysis of sentiments showed negative perceptions on tubal ligation. The U.S. media outlets analyzed are more interested in pre-menopausal than in post-menopausal women health and focused their content on contraception, while Twitter users showed greater interest in side effects.
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