The Correlation of Urine Bisphenol A with Semen Parameters in Men Referred to Infertility Centers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Bisphenol A (BPA) is known as an endocrine disruptor that has harmful effects on general health. It iscommonly used in various industrial products. In this study we tried to evaluate the amount of BPA in urine samplesof the men referred to an infertility center.

The cross-sectional study population consisted of male partners of infertile couples, who werereferred to infertility clinic in Mazandaran, a northern state of Iran. Questionnaires included demographic characteristics,medical history, lifestyle factors, physical examinations. A semen sample and a spot urine sample were taken from eachparticipant. In the initial study group of 240 men, 3 groups were excluded, and 122 men remained for the analysis. Highperformanceliquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to measure the amount of BPA in the urine samples.

BPA was not detected in about half of the samples (53.3%). Multiple linear regression analysis showed thatno significant relationship existed between the urine concentrations of BPA, semen parameters and male reproductivehormones. However, in a comparison with semen parameters in people with detectable urine BPA versus nondetectableones, an inverse association was noticed with sperm concentration. In other parameters, differences were notsignificant. Smoking had no effects on sperm parameters, but body mass index (BMI) ≥25 reduced the percentage ofnormal sperm parameters.

In most participants, urinary BPA was not detected. Probably in this study low environmental exposure toBPA is the cause of lower urine BPA concentrations compared to other industrially developed countries. Therefore, nooverall relationship was observed between BPA level and male infertility.