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Hum. Reprod. Advance Access originally published online on September 11, 2006
Human Reproduction 2007 22(1):188-196; doi:10.1093/humrep/del364
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Is smoking a risk factor for decreased semen quality? A cross-sectional analysis

C.H. Ramlau-Hansen1, A.M. Thulstrup, A.S. Aggerholm, M.S. Jensen, G. Toft and J.P. Bonde

Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Sygehus, Denmark

1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus Sygehus, Norrebrogade 44, building 2C, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. E-mail: craha{at}as.aaa.dk

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest a deleterious effect of cigarette smoking on semen quality, but their results have not been consistent. We studied the association between current smoking and semen characteristics and hormonal levels in a large group of healthy men. METHODS: From 1987 to 2004, seven separate occupational or environmental semen quality studies were co-ordinated by our department. A total of 2562 men participated, each providing semen and blood sample and answering a questionnaire about lifestyle and factors related to health. Appropriate semen and smoking data were available for 2542 men. RESULTS: Adjusting for study, age and other covariates, we observed an inverse dose–response relation between smoking and semen volume, total sperm count and percentage motile sperm. Heavy smokers had a 19% lower sperm concentration than non-smokers. We found a positive dose–response relationship between smoking and testosterone, LH and the LH/free testosterone ratios. CONCLUSION: Current smoking in adult life moderately impairs the semen quality. It is well known that semen quality is associated to fecundity. Therefore, it would be sensible to advise men to abstain from smoking to avoid decreased fecundity.

Key words: current smoking/prenatal exposure/reproductive hormones/sperm concentration/total sperm count


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