MSGID: 1:317/3 63f6ebee   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Physically demanding work tied to higher male fertility, study suggests   
      
      
     Date:   
         February 22, 2023   
     Source:   
         Brigham and Women's Hospital   
     Summary:   
         A new study suggests that men who regularly lift heavy objects at   
         work have higher sperm counts.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   A new study from researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding   
   member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, suggests that men   
   who regularly lift heavy objects at work have higher sperm counts. The   
   study, published in Human Reproduction, is part of the Environment   
   and Reproductive Health (EARTH) cohort, a clinical study which aims to   
   explore how exposure to environmental chemicals and lifestyle choices   
   affect reproductive health.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   "We already know that exercise is associated with multiple health   
   benefits in humans, including those observed on reproductive health,   
   but few studies have looked at how occupational factors can contribute   
   to these benefits," said first author Lidia Mi'nguez-Alarco'n, a   
   reproductive epidemiologist in Brigham's Channing Division of Network   
   Medicine and co-investigator of the EARTH study. "What these new findings   
   suggest is that physical activity during work may also be associated with   
   significant improvement in men's reproductive potential."  Infertility is   
   a growing problem, and it can be caused by a wide variety of complex   
   factors. However, about 40% of infertility cases can be traced to male   
   factors, such as sperm count, semen quality and sexual function. In   
   particular, sperm count and semen quality are thought to be the major   
   drivers of growing infertility rates among males -- a previous analysis   
   led by the EARTH study team found that among men seeking fertility   
   treatment, sperm count and quality declined by as much as 42% between   
   2000 and 2017.   
      
   "Further, there is increasing evidence that male infertility is associated   
   with common chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and autoimmune   
   disease, highlighting the broader importance of male reproductive health,"   
   said Mi'nguez-Alarco'n.   
      
   The EARTH study is a collaboration between the Harvard T. Chan School   
   of Public Health and Mass General Brigham to evaluate the effect of   
   environment and lifestyle factors on fertility. EARTH has collected   
   samples and survey data from over 1,500 men and women, and the current   
   study focused on a subset of these participants, including 377 male   
   partners in couples seeking treatment at a fertility center.   
      
   The researchers found that men who reported often lifting or moving heavy   
   objects at work had 46% higher sperm concentration and 44% higher total   
   sperm count compared to those with less physical jobs. Men who reported   
   more physical activity at work also had higher levels of the male sex   
   hormone testosterone and, counterintuitively, the female hormone estrogen.   
      
   "Contrary to what some people remember from biology class, 'male' and   
   'female' hormones are found in both sexes, but in different amounts,"   
   said Mi'nguez- Alarco'n. "In this case, we hypothesize that excess   
   testosterone is being converted into estrogen, which is a known way for   
   the body to keep normal levels of both hormones."  While the current   
   study found a relationship between physical activity and fertility in men   
   seeking fertility treatment, it will take further research to confirm   
   if these findings hold true for men from the general population. The   
   researchers also hope that future studies will reveal the underlying   
   biological mechanisms at play.   
      
   "Reproductive health is important in its own right, but more and more   
   evidence suggests that male infertility can give us insight into broader   
   public health issues, including the most common chronic diseases,"   
   said Mi'nguez-Alarco'n.   
      
   "Uncovering actionable steps people can take to improve their fertility   
   stands to benefit all of us, not just couples trying to conceive."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Fertility # Men's_Health # Prostate_Cancer #   
                   Pregnancy_and_Childbirth # Fitness # Workplace_Health #   
                   Diseases_and_Conditions # Women's_Health   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Facial_rejuvenation o Heavy_metals o Fertility o   
             Molecular_biology o Somatic_cell o Inbreeding o Estrogen o   
             Functional_training   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by Brigham_and_Women's_Hospital. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Lidia Mi'nguez-Alarco'n, Paige L Williams, Irene Souter, Jennifer   
      B Ford,   
         Ramy Abou Ghayda, Russ Hauser, Jorge E Chavarro. Occupational   
         factors and markers of testicular function among men attending a   
         fertility center.   
      
         Human Reproduction, 2023; DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead027   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230222141141.htm   
      
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