Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and semen quality in the male offspring: two decades of follow-up

Author： Ramlau-Hansen C.H. Toft G. Jensen M.S. Strandberg-Larsen K. Hansen M.L. Olsen J.

ISSN： 1460-2350

Source： Human Reproduction, Vol.25, Iss.9, 2010-09, pp. : 2340-2345

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Abstract

BACKGROUND Concurrent alcohol exposure has been associated with reduced fecundity, but no studies have estimated the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on male fecundity. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, semen quality and levels of reproductive hormones in young, adult men. METHODS From a Danish pregnancy cohort established in 19841987, 347 sons were selected for a follow-up study conducted in 20052006. Semen and blood samples were analyzed for conventional semen characteristics and reproductive hormones, respectively, and results were related to prospectively self-reported information on maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. RESULTS The sperm concentration decreased with increasing prenatal alcohol exposure. The adjusted mean sperm concentration among sons of mothers drinking 4.5 drinks per week during pregnancy was 40 (95 CI: 2560) millions/ml. This concentration was 32 lower compared with men exposed to <1.0 drink="" per="" week,="" who="" had="" a="" sperm="" concentration="" of="" 59="" (95="" ci:="" 4477)="" millions/ml.="" the="" semen="" volume="" and="" the="" total="" sperm="" count="" were="" also="" associated="" with="" prenatal="" alcohol="" exposure;="" sons="" prenatally="" exposed="" to="" 1.01.5="" drinks="" per="" week="" had="" the="" highest="" values.="" no="" associations="" were="" found="" for="" sperm="" motility,="" sperm="" morphology="" or="" any="" of="" the="" reproductive="" hormones,="" including=""> CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that prenatal exposure to alcohol may have a persisting adverse effect on Sertoli cells, and thereby sperm concentration. If these associations are causal they could explain some of the reported differences between populations and long-term changes in semen quality.