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Fetal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking and male reproductive function in young adulthood

Hærvig, Katia Keglberg ; Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig ; Giwercman, Aleksander LU ; Hougaard, Karin Sørig ; Høyer, Birgit Bjerre ; Lindh, Christian LU orcid ; Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst ; Nybo Andersen, Anne Marie ; Toft, Gunnar and Bonde, Jens Peter , et al. (2022) In European Journal of Epidemiology 37(5). p.525-538
Abstract

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,... (More)

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.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Fetal programming, Male infertility, Maternal smoking, Prenatal exposure, Reproductive hormones, Semen quality
in
European Journal of Epidemiology
volume
37
issue
5
pages
14 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85128909431
  • pmid:35476275
ISSN
0393-2990
DOI
10.1007/s10654-022-00869-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
af25aef8-bb50-485e-82f8-3ee73a8fdfd3
date added to LUP
2022-07-04 14:17:13
date last changed
2024-06-09 21:33:14
@article{af25aef8-bb50-485e-82f8-3ee73a8fdfd3,
  abstract     = {{<p>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 (&gt; 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 &gt; 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.</p>}},
  author       = {{Hærvig, Katia Keglberg and Petersen, Kajsa Ugelvig and Giwercman, Aleksander and Hougaard, Karin Sørig and Høyer, Birgit Bjerre and Lindh, Christian and Ramlau-Hansen, Cecilia Høst and Nybo Andersen, Anne Marie and Toft, Gunnar and Bonde, Jens Peter and Tøttenborg, Sandra Søgaard}},
  issn         = {{0393-2990}},
  keywords     = {{Fetal programming; Male infertility; Maternal smoking; Prenatal exposure; Reproductive hormones; Semen quality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{525--538}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Journal of Epidemiology}},
  title        = {{Fetal exposure to maternal cigarette smoking and male reproductive function in young adulthood}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10654-022-00869-2}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10654-022-00869-2}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}