Paternal exposures can adversely affect sperm

"A paternal exposure is anything the father of the baby is exposed to before or during his partner's pregnancy," explained Christina Chambers, Ph.D., MPH, professor of pediatrics and director of the CTIS Pregnancy Health Information Line, a statewide non-profit that educates the public about exposures during pregnancy and is based at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. "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."

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 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. What better time to remind the public of that significance than during Father's Day."

More information: 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, at (866) 626-6847.

Provided by University of California - San Diego