Fertility treatment and reproductive health of male offspring: a study of 1,925 young men from the general population

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearch

  • Tina Kold Jensen
  • Niels Jørgensen
  • Camilla Asklund
  • Elisabeth Carlsen
  • Mette Holm
  • Skakkebæk, Niels Erik
  • Tina Kold Jensen
Little is known the about the reproductive health of offspring after fertility treatment. In 2001-2005, the authors approached young Danish men attending a compulsory physical examination to determine their fitness for military service. A total of 1,925 men volunteered, delivered a semen sample, had a physical examination performed and a blood sample drawn, and responded to a questionnaire. Their mothers were questioned about whether they had received fertility treatment in order to conceive their sons. Forty-seven mothers reported having received fertility treatment to conceive the index subject. After control for confounders, men whose mothers had received fertility treatment to conceive them had a 46% lower sperm concentration (95% confidence interval (CI): -63, -20) and a 45% lower total sperm count (95% CI: -64, -16). They had a smaller testis size (-0.9 ml, 95% CI: -2.2, 0.4), fewer motile sperm (-4.0%, 95% CI: -8.0, -0.1), and fewer morphologically normal spermatozoa (-2.0%, 95% CI: -4.1, 0.0). They also had a lower serum testosterone level and free androgen index (results not statistically significant). These findings should be viewed in light of the increasing use of fertility treatments. Although the cause of these findings is unknown, they raise concern about possible late effects of fertility treatment. Larger-scale studies of children born after fertility treatment should be performed.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology
Volume165
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)583-90
Number of pages8
ISSN0002-9262
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2007

ID: 34051243