The incidence of bilateral cryptorchidism is increased and the fertility potential is reduced in sons born to mothers who have smoked during pregnancy.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
Recent studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of cryptorchidism, decreasing semen quality and increasing incidence of testicular cancer. These changes seem to be interrelated, and may be symptoms of a common underlying entity with foundations in fetal life. We investigated the influence of maternal smoking on fertility status in offspring cryptorchidism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We prospectively studied consecutive patients presenting to the pediatric surgery department between 1996 and 2005. A total of 157 boys 1 to 5.9 years old underwent surgery for cryptorchidism with simultaneous testicular biopsy, and exhibited well preserved testicular parenchyma. Only white patients with Danish-speaking mothers who had reported pregnancy history including smoking habits during pregnancy and history of the offspring were included. The patients had cryptorchidism only and none received hormonal treatment before surgery. The number of spermatogonia and gonocytes per tubule cross-section was assessed and compared to normal values from autopsy material.

RESULTS:
The group of boys with cryptorchidism whose mothers had smoked heavily during pregnancy (ie more than 10 cigarettes daily throughout the pregnancy) had a significantly increased risk of bilateral cryptorchidism (52%, or 11 of 21 patients), and a decreased number of spermatogonia and gonocytes per tubule cross-section, which was absolute (0.097 [0 to 0.75]) and age related (14% [0% to 198%] of normal for age) compared to boys whose mothers did not smoke (20%, or 22 of 112 patients, 0.140 [0 to 2.14] and 37% [0% to 563%] of normal for age, p <0.01, p <0.05 and p <0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:
A close relationship between maternal smoking during pregnancy and adverse trends in offspring reproductive health in relation to cryptorchidism was observed.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Thorup, J (J); Cortes, D (D); Petersen, B L (BL);

Affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Journal of urology (J Urol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 176 (issue 2) : pp 734-7

Dates: Created 2006/07/03; Completed 2006/08/29;

PMID: 16813933, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Child, Preschool
Cryptorchidism - epidemiology; pathology
Female
Humans
Incidence
Infant
Infertility, Male - epidemiology; etiology

Infertility, Male - epidemiology; etiology
Male
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoking

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

[Problems in cryptorchism] 29 Apr 1969
The undescended testis. 27 Feb 1973
[Adverse urologic effects: impotence, fertility disorders, bladder carcinoma] 30 Dec 1993
Anatomical and functional aspects of testicular descent and cryptorchidism. 30 Mar 1997
[Guideline. Immunologic infertility] 30 Jul 2005
Prenatal alcohol exposure and cryptorchidism. 17 Sep 2007
[Testicular ectopy. Current concepts] 30 Dec 1991
Maternal and gestational factors in cryptorchidism. 29 Nov 1991
The undescended testis. Theory and management. 30 Jan 1995
Undescended testicles: an epidemiological review. 29 Sep 1999

See 100+ related articles.