Bisphenol-A affecting the Sperm Quality in Humans

Abstract:

Objective:
To evaluate whether urinary Bisphenol-A (BPA) levels in men adversely influence semen quality and embryo development after medically assisted reproduction.

Design:
Prospective, cohort study.

Setting:
University-based tertiary care center.

Patient(s):
A total of 149 couples undergoing their first or second IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure.

Main Outcome Measure(s):
Semen quality and embryo development parameters until the blastocyst stage after the IVF or ICSI procedure.

Result(s):
Bisphenol A was detected in 98% (n = 146) of the samples with 0.1 ng/mL limit of detection. The geometric mean BPA concentration was 1.55 ng/mL. After the adjustment for potential confounders using linear regression models, an increase of natural logarithm transformed urinary BPA concentration was associated with lower natural logarithm transformed sperm count (β = −0.241, 95% confidence interval [CI] −0.470 to −0.012), natural logarithm transformed sperm concentration (β = −0.219, 95% CI −0.436 to −0.003), and sperm vitality (β = −2.660, 95% CI −4.991 to −0.329). The embryo development parameters from oocyte fertilization to the blastocyst formation stage were not affected by BPA exposure.

Conclusion(s):
Urinary BPA concentrations in male partners of subfertile couples may influence semen quality parameters, but do not affect embryo development up to the blastocyst stage after medically assisted reproduction.

Sources: Are urinary bisphenol A levels in men related to semen quality and embryo development after medically assisted reproduction?, The American Society for Reproductive Medicine,
PII: S0015-0282(13)03102-6, 30 Oct 2013

Analysis: BPA may affect sperm quality in couples seeking in vitro fertilization, EHN Staff, 14 Nov 2013

Our tags BPA – Endocrine Disruptors – Pesticides – Phthalates