BPA associated with boost in sperm motility

ASRM 67th Annual Meeting

Human semen containing bisphenol A, or BPA, appears to have increased sperm motility compared with seminal fluid not containing the compound, according to recent data.

“While animal studies have associated BPA with alterations in male reproductive function, human studies remain scarce,” researchers wrote in an abstract. “BPA has a short half-life and is rapidly excreted in urine, bringing to question the relevance of a single urinary BPA measurement, reflecting only recent exposure.”

The researchers explored this question by conducting a cross-sectional study involving samples of seminal fluid taken from 59 men aged 21 to 53 years undergoing semen evaluation. Mean sperm count was 63.8 million/mL with 58% motility and 6.2 normal morphology.

Of the 59 samples analyzed, 34 had normal semen parameters, according to study results, whereas 25 had at least one abnormal parameter. The researchers measured both free and bound BPA in five samples. They found levels ranging from 0.09 ng/mL to 1.12 ng/mL and one sample with freely available BPA detected at 0.1 ng/mL. Although data revealed no differences in age, BMI, days of abstinence, tobacco use, proven paternity, sperm count and morphology, motility was considerably higher among samples with detectable amounts of BPA compared with those not containing BPA (72% vs. 65%; P=.01).

“Semen containing this xenoestrogen has increased sperm motility, the same effect found in our prior in vitro studies with additions of estrogenic compounds to sperm,” the researchers wrote. “Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine long-term adverse consequences of BPA accumulation in the male reproductive tract.”

For more information:

Wu DH. P-164. Presented at: the American Society for Reproductive Medicine 67th Annual Meeting; Oct. 15-19, 2011; Orlando, Fla.

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