TY - JOUR
T1 - Fetal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking and male reproductive function in young adulthood
AU - Hærvig, Katia Keglberg
AU - Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig
AU - Giwercman, Aleksander
AU - Hougaard, Karin Sørig
AU - Høyer, Birgit Bjerre
AU - Lindh, Christian
AU - Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst
AU - Nybo Andersen, Anne Marie
AU - Toft, Gunnar
AU - Bonde, Jens Peter
AU - Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, Springer Nature B.V.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Maternal smoking during pregnancy constitutes a potential, major risk factor for adult male reproductive function. In the hitherto largest longitudinal cohort, we examined biomarkers of reproductive function according to maternal smoking during the first trimester and investigated whether associations were mitigated by smoking cessation prior to the fetal masculinization programming window. Associations between exposure to maternal smoking and semen characteristics, testicular volume and reproductive hormones were assessed among 984 young men from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. Maternal smoking was assessed through interview data and measured plasma cotinine levels during pregnancy. We applied negative binomial, logistic and linear regression models to estimate differences in outcomes according to levels of maternal smoking. Sons of light smokers (≤ 10 cigarettes/day) had a 19% (95% CI − 29%, − 6%) lower sperm concentration and a 24% (95% CI − 35%, − 11%) lower total sperm count than sons of non-smokers. These estimates were 38% (95% CI − 52%, − 22%) and 33% (95% CI − 51%, − 8%), respectively, for sons of heavy smokers (> 10 cigarettes/day). The latter group also had a 25% (95% CI 1%, 54%) higher follitropin level. Similarly, sons exposed to maternal cotinine levels of > 10 ng/mL had lower sperm concentration and total sperm count. Smoking cessation prior to gestational week seven was not associated with a higher reproductive capacity. We observed substantial and consistent exposure–response associations, providing strong support for the hypothesis that maternal smoking impairs male reproductive function. This association persisted regardless of smoking cessation in early pregnancy.
AB - Maternal smoking during pregnancy constitutes a potential, major risk factor for adult male reproductive function. In the hitherto largest longitudinal cohort, we examined biomarkers of reproductive function according to maternal smoking during the first trimester and investigated whether associations were mitigated by smoking cessation prior to the fetal masculinization programming window. Associations between exposure to maternal smoking and semen characteristics, testicular volume and reproductive hormones were assessed among 984 young men from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. Maternal smoking was assessed through interview data and measured plasma cotinine levels during pregnancy. We applied negative binomial, logistic and linear regression models to estimate differences in outcomes according to levels of maternal smoking. Sons of light smokers (≤ 10 cigarettes/day) had a 19% (95% CI − 29%, − 6%) lower sperm concentration and a 24% (95% CI − 35%, − 11%) lower total sperm count than sons of non-smokers. These estimates were 38% (95% CI − 52%, − 22%) and 33% (95% CI − 51%, − 8%), respectively, for sons of heavy smokers (> 10 cigarettes/day). The latter group also had a 25% (95% CI 1%, 54%) higher follitropin level. Similarly, sons exposed to maternal cotinine levels of > 10 ng/mL had lower sperm concentration and total sperm count. Smoking cessation prior to gestational week seven was not associated with a higher reproductive capacity. We observed substantial and consistent exposure–response associations, providing strong support for the hypothesis that maternal smoking impairs male reproductive function. This association persisted regardless of smoking cessation in early pregnancy.
KW - Fetal programming
KW - Male infertility
KW - Maternal smoking
KW - Prenatal exposure
KW - Reproductive hormones
KW - Semen quality
U2 - 10.1007/s10654-022-00869-2
DO - 10.1007/s10654-022-00869-2
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35476275
AN - SCOPUS:85128909431
VL - 37
SP - 525
EP - 538
JO - European Journal of Epidemiology
JF - European Journal of Epidemiology
SN - 0393-2990
ER -