Adverse trends of male reproductive health in two nordic countries indicate environmental problems

Abstract

Current male reproductive health is poor and infertility will be an increasing problem. The reasons are not known, but emerging evidence from experimental animal studies, wildlife, and epidemiological studies combined to our biological and clinical understanding support the hypothesis that environmental endocrine disrupters contribute to the problem. It is therefore important to increase awareness of male reproductive health problems and strengthen interdisciplinary, translational research in this field as specified recently by European Science Foundation (ESF; ESF Science Policy Briefing, September 2010, www.esf.org). Long-term epidemiological studies combining genetic and environmental information with good clinical examinations, biological pathway analyses and effective bioinformatics will be crucial to understand the etiology of poor male reproductive health. Targeted research efforts to better understand mechanisms involved in these processes, including late effects of fetal exposure, will provide paths forward for better male reproductive health. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.