Human Reproduction, Vol. 17, No. 9, 2468-2473,
September 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Higher sperm counts in Southern Sweden compared with Denmark
1 Department of Urology and 2 Department of Clinical Chemistry, Malmö University Hospital, 3 Fertility Centre, Scanian Andrology Centre, Malmö University Hospital, SE 20502, Malmö and 4 Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University Hospital, SE 21885, Lund, Sweden
BACKGROUND: A common aetiology behind time-related deterioration of male reproductive function, including decline of sperm concentration and rising incidence of testicular cancer and cryptorchidism, has been suggested. Accordingly, a high incidence of testicular cancer and low sperm counts have been observed in Denmark, while in Finland opposite figures were found. This may be due to genetic factors. The incidence of testicular cancer is 50% lower in Sweden than in Denmark. Data on sperm counts in a population of Danish military conscripts have been published and we wished therefore to compare them with semen parameters in a corresponding cohort from Southern Sweden, geographically and genetically very closely related to Denmark. METHODS: A total of 305 military conscripts was recruited and investigated in an identical way as those in the Danish study including a questionnaire, physical examination and semen analysis. RESULTS: Men born and raised in Sweden had a 23% higher mean sperm concentration, a 31% higher mean total sperm count and a 14% higher seminal volume compared with their Danish counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in reproductive parameters between the two genetically very similar populations could not be explained by possible confounders and may be due to unknown environmental or lifestyle-related factors.
Key words: environment/geographical trend/lifestyle/sperm concentration/testicular cancer
5 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: aleksander.giwercman{at}kir.mas.lu.se
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  T.M. Stewart, D.Y. Liu, C. Garrett, E.H. Brown, and H.W.G. Baker Recruitment bias in studies of semen and other factors affecting pregnancy rates in fertile men Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2009; 24(10): 2401 - 2408. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. Valtonen-Andre, C. Savblom, P. Fernlund, H. Lilja, A. Giwercman, and A. Lundwall Beta-Microseminoprotein in Serum Correlates With the Levels in Seminal Plasma of Young, Healthy Males J Androl, May 1, 2008; 29(3): 330 - 337. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Dhooge, N. Van Larebeke, F. Comhaire, and J.-M. Kaufman Reproductive Parameters of Community-Dwelling Men From 2 Regions in Flanders Are Associated With the Consumption of Self-Grown Vegetables J Androl, November 1, 2007; 28(6): 836 - 846. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Gao, E.S. Gao, Q. Yang, M. Walker, J.Q. Wu, W.J. Zhou, and S.W. Wen Semen quality in a residential, geographic and age representative sample of healthy Chinese men Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2007; 22(2): 477 - 484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K B Lundin, Y L Giwercman, L Rylander, L Hagmar, and A Giwercman Androgen receptor gene GGN repeat length and reproductive characteristics in young Swedish men. Eur. J. Endocrinol., August 1, 2006; 155(2): 347 - 354. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. B. Lundin, A. Nordenskjold, A. Giwercman, and Y. L. Giwercman Frequent Finding of the Androgen Receptor A645D Variant in Normal Population J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., August 1, 2006; 91(8): 3228 - 3231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Richiardi and O. Akre Fertility Among Brothers of Patients with Testicular Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., November 1, 2005; 14(11): 2557 - 2562. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Muller, E. De La Rochebrochard, C. Labbe-Decleves, P. Jouannet, L. Bujan, R. Mieusset, D. Le Lannou, J.F. Guerin, M. Benchaib, R. Slama, et al. Selection bias in semen studies due to self-selection of volunteers Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2004; 19(12): 2838 - 2844. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. L. Aschim, A. Nordenskjold, A. Giwercman, K. B. Lundin, Y. Ruhayel, T. B. Haugen, T. Grotmol, and Y. L. Giwercman Linkage between Cryptorchidism, Hypospadias, and GGN Repeat Length in the Androgen Receptor Gene J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2004; 89(10): 5105 - 5109. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. Malm, T. B. Haugen, T. Henrichsen, C. Bjorsvik, T. Grotmol, T. Saether, J. Malm, Y. Figenschau, L. Hagmar, L. Rylander, et al. Reproductive Function during Summer and Winter in Norwegian Men Living North and South of the Arctic Circle J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2004; 89(9): 4397 - 4402. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Ruhayel, K. Lundin, Y. Giwercman, C. Hallden, M. Willen, and A. Giwercman Androgen receptor gene GGN and CAG polymorphisms among severely oligozoospermic and azoospermic Swedish men Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2004; 19(9): 2076 - 2083. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K.B. Lundin, A. Giwercman, J. Richthoff, P-A. Abrahamsson, and Y.L. Giwercman No association between mutations in the human androgen receptor GGN repeat and inter-sex conditions Mol. Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2003; 9(7): 375 - 379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Richthoff, M. Spano, Y.L. Giwercman, B. Frohm, K. Jepson, J. Malm, S. Elzanaty, M. Stridsberg, and A. Giwercman The impact of testicular and accessory sex gland function on sperm chromatin integrity as assessed by the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2002; 17(12): 3162 - 3169. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Elzanaty, J. Richthoff, J. Malm, and A. Giwercman The impact of epididymal and accessory sex gland function on sperm motility Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2002; 17(11): 2904 - 2911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|