Association of cigarette smoking with reproductive hormone levels and semen quality in healthy adult men in Taiwan
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of cigarette smoking with semen quality and reproductive hormone levels in 192 healthy men 20-65 years old, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Exposure to cigarette smoking was classified three ways based on: 1) smoking status (yes vs. no); 2) the number of cigarettes per day (0, 1-10, > 10); and 3) pack-years (0, 1-10, 11-20, > 20). Serum levels of total testosterone (TT), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and total estradiol (TE) were measured. Semen quality, including concentration, motility, vitality, and morphology, were assessed. Mean levels of smoking, semen quality, and hormones were compared using the multiple linear regression, while controlling for possible confounding factors, including age, body mass index (BMI), cadmium levels in seminal plasma, and alcohol consumption. Current smokers, who smoked 10 cigarettes per day, had a lower mean percentage of normal morphology (3.2% and 5.5% in nonsmokers, P = 0.040), and a higher mean level of TT (454.7 pmol/L and 439.8 pmol/L in nonsmokers, P = 0.048), as compared with nonsmokers. Also, current smokers at > 20 pack-year had a lower percentage of normal morphology and a lower mean level of TT as compared with nonsmokers; no significant difference was observed in LH, FSH, sperm concentration, vitality, and motility between smokers and nonsmokers based on the number of cigarette per day and the pack-year. Sperm vitality statistically correlated with FSH (β = -0.36 P = 0.015) and TE (β = 0.35, P = 0.018), while motility statistically correlated with TT (β = 0.228, P = 0.045). Normal morphology did not statistically correlated with all reproductive hormones.
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There are conflicting findings on the association between smoking and sperm morphology.
“There are conflicting findings on the association between smoking and sperm morphology.”
From Isolated teratozoospermia: revisiting its relevance in male infertility: a narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [57]
Some studies showed that heavy smoking is correlated with lower sperm quality, including teratozoospermia, and incidence of cytoplasmic droplets in sperm.
“Some studies showed that heavy smoking is correlated with lower sperm quality, including teratozoospermia, and incidence of cytoplasmic droplets in sperm (55-57).”
From Isolated teratozoospermia: revisiting its relevance in male infertility: a narrative review (2024) · cites this paper as [57]
A study of 16 men found that 50% of men identified as hypogonadal on one measurement were eugonadal on repeat testing.
“A similar study of 16 men found that 50% of men who were identified as hypogonadal (defined as <300 ng/dl [10.4 nmol/L]) on one given measurement were noted to be eugonadal on repeat testing.”
From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [64]
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- Authors
- Jeng, H. A., Chen, Y.-L., & Kantaria, K. N.
- Affiliations
- Old Dominion University (US)
- Kaohsiung Medical University (TW)
- ORCID
- Chen, Yi-Ling
- Venue
- Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-11-26
- Volume
- 49
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 262-268
- ISSN
- 1093-4529 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-4117
- OpenAlex
- W2052410327
- Cited by
- 45
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 3.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Keywords
- cigarette smoking, semen quality, reproductive hormones, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm viability, pack-years, male reproductive health
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Cadmium, Estradiol, Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Hormones, Humans, Luteinizing Hormone, Male, Middle Aged, Semen, Smoking, Taiwan, Testosterone, Body Mass Index, Semen Analysis, Young Adult
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