FATHER'S DAY FACT: DAD'S EXPOSURES CAN BE SIGNIFICANT PRIOR TO PREGNANCY

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 
UCSD Experts Say Many Paternal Exposures Can Affect Sperm & Lead To Infertility 

 
June 18, 2011 (San Diego) - According to the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line, a statewide non-profit that educates the public about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, more studies are needed to evaluate the potential effect of illnesses, medications and men's lifestyle habits and their impact on both fertility and pregnancy.
 
It is estimated that for couples suffering fertility problems, the issue rests half of the time with the male. In approximately a quarter of these cases, a specific cause is unknown.
 
 
"A paternal exposure is anything the father of the baby is exposed to before or during his partner's pregnancy," explained Christina Chambers, PhD, MPH, professor of pediatrics and director of the CTIS Pregnancy Health Information Line, which is based at the University of California, San Diego. "Some exposures may affect a man's ability to father a child by changing the size or shape of sperm, the number of sperm produced or how the sperm work," she added.
 
 
Studies have found associations with the following risk factors and either altered sperm with or without infertility, lower fertility and infertility:
 
*      Occupational: Chemicals such as heavy metals, solvents, fumes (welding fumes).
*      Physical agents: Heat, vibration, extremes in temperature and pressure.
*      Radiation: Radiation and electromagnetic radiation (cell phones).
*      Lifestyle: Cigarette smoking.
*      Infection: Chlamydia trachomatis, a common sexually transmitted disease.
*      Pollutants: PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls). PCBs were banned by the EPA in 1979, but exist in the environment including landfills, lakes and streams.
 
 
"Dad is sometimes an afterthought when it comes to pregnancy," said Dr. Chambers. "But the bottom line is it's often just as important to consider dad's impact on a developing baby before, during and after pregnancy as it is mom's," she added. "What better time to remind the public of that significance than during Father's Day."
 
 
In California, questions or concerns about paternal exposures in pregnancy or breastfeeding can be directed to CTIS Pregnancy Health Information Line counselors at (800) 532-3749 or via instant message counseling at
 
CTISPregnancy.org. Outside of California, please call CTIS' national affiliate, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS), at (866) 626-6847.
 

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.