Michał Radwan

Publications of Michał Radwan

• [The effect of stress on the semen quality].

  Authors: Joanna Jurewicz, Wojciech Hanke, Wojciech Sobala, Dorota Merecz, Michał Radwan

  Medycyna pracy. 01/2010; 61(6):607-13.

  Stress is one of the most important health and social problems. Psychological stress has long been suspected of having an important impact on infertility. Studies on the effects of psychologicalStress is one of the most important health and social problems. Psychological stress has long been suspected of having an important impact on infertility. Studies on the effects of psychological stress on male fertility, especially the semen quality, have so far yielded equivocal findings. The study population consisted of 179 men who had reported to the infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes, some of them with normal fertility (semen total concentration of 15-300 mln/ml) or with slight oligozoospermia (semen total concentration of 10-15 mln/ml). The semen samples were analyzed in one laboratory according to the WHO manual on basic semen analysis. The main semen parameters were assessed: volume, motility, percent of atypical and progressive spermatozoa. To assess the occupational stress the Subjective Work Characteristics Questionnaire was used. Assessing the level of stress we concentrated on the sum of points obtained by each man taking part in the study and the number of psychosocial factors present at work reported by the subjects. Measuring the level of stress by the Subjective Work Characteristics Questionnaire, we revealed negative effects of a number of stressful situations at work, which affect semen volume and percent of progressive spermatozoa, taking account of confounding factors that can have impact on the semen quality and thus affect fertility, such as duration of the couple's infertility, past sexual abstinence and diseases. The study confirm that the occupational stress can affect the male semen quality, however, due to the limited data on this issue, the obtained results must be confirmed by more extensive, longitudinal studies.

• Environmental factors and semen quality.

  Authors: Joanna Jurewicz, Wojciech Hanke, Michał Radwan, Jens Peter Bonde

  International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health. 01/2009; 22(4):305-29.

  An increasing number of reports suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by human activity, may affect male fertility in humans. This article aims atAn increasing number of reports suggest that chemical and physical agents in the environment, introduced and spread by human activity, may affect male fertility in humans. This article aims at evaluating the impact of environmental exposures (pesticides, phthalates, PCBs, air pollution, trihalomethanes (THMs), mobile phones) on semen quality, by reviewing most recent published literature. Epidemiological studies focusing on exposure to environmental factors and semen quality for the last ten years were identified by a search of the Pubmed, Medline, Ebsco, Agricola and Toxnet literature bases. The results from the presented studies suggest that there are strong and rather consistent indications that some pesticides besides DBCP (e.g. DDT/Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene [DDE], ethylenedibromide, organophosphates) affects sperm count. PCBs are detrimental to sperm motility. In case of air pollution, studies suggest a link between ambient air pollutants and various semen characteristics. Additional research is needed to corroborate this association and to establish the causal agents. Results of few studies on subfertile men demonstrate associations between phthalate levels commonly experienced by the public and impaired sperm quality (impact on sperm concentration, morphology, motility), but the findings have not been corroborated in studies of men from the general population. Mobile phones might adversely affect the quality of semen by decreasing mostly motility but also the sperm counts, viability and morphology. In spite of their consistent results, most of the studies are rather small. Association between exposure to THMs and poor semen quality was not observed. Epidemiological studies suggest awareness of environmental factors which may affect semen quality. In case both of well proven and disputable reproductive and developmental hazards, it is necessary to prevent parental exposure to the agents associated with those hazards.