Although causes of male infertility are multifactorial, occupational hazards may be a contributory factor to infertility in artisans, workers in chemical-related industries and businessmen in Osun State, a study has said.
Experts, in a study of men investigated for infertility in Osun State, said these occupations may predispose men in these professions to hormonal disorder arising from workplace exposure to toxins that can impact negatively on male fertility.
This study conducted between February 2017 and July 2019 involved 319 men, aged 21 to 60 years, undergoing infertility treatment at six centres in Osun State, including Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital, Ile – Ife. It was in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Research.
Men with known disease or congenital conditions such as severe hypertension, diabetes mellitus, sexually transmitted diseases and genital warts were excluded from the study. Besides, men currently on antioxidant food supplements, cigarette smokers and alcohol consumers were also excluded too.
The occupational distribution shows that 16.9 per cent were artisans, 42.6 per cent were civil servants, 6.3 per cent farmers, 5.4 per cent were work in chemical-related industries, and 27 per cent were businessmen. The duration of the infertility ranges between two and 18 years.
In this study, 58.3 per cent of men investigated for infertility had hormonal abnormalities. The highest proportions of infertile men (68.5 per cent) were artisans while the lowest 40.0 per cent were farmers. The occupational distributions likely to be associated with abnormal hormone levels among participants are artisans, workers in chemical-related industries, and businessmen.
In this study, an overwhelming number of respondents (41.7 per cent) had normal hormone levels. The cause of their infertility in this group is not immediately ascertained since the cause of male infertility are numerous and include genetic, physical abnormalities, injuries, drugs, infections of the genital tract, radiation, toxins, or unexplained.
In addition, majority of the respondents did not carry out regular exercise and the difference in the number of respondents who carryout regular exercise and those who do not was statistically significant. Available evidence suggests that exercise may contribute to improvement in the quality of sperm parameters from 9.7 per cent to 15.2 per cent in men performing regular exercise of one hour, at least three times a week.
Evidence linking workplace or occupational exposure to harmful effects on male infertility is on the increase. Infertile men might benefit from assessment of workplace contribution to their condition.
The functionalities of the male reproductive system are largely dependent on hormones that are produced by endocrine glands. Abnormalities in hormone production and transportation challenges to the sites of action have been reported as one of the causes of male infertility.
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