Parabens linked to male infertility

Aug 21, 2017 06:00 am

Men who have been exposed to common chemicals known as parabens have lower testosterone levels and poor semen quality, a study has shown.

Parabens are widely used preservatives in cosmetic products such as soaps, creams and make-up.

Researchers examined lab tests done on 315 male patients of a fertility clinic in Poland to pinpoint issues they were having with reproduction. All patients provided samples of urine, saliva, blood and semen for analysis.

Compared with men who had low concentrations of parabens in their urine, men with high concentrations had a larger proportion of sperm with an unusual size or shape, which is linked to infertility, the study found.

Higher levels of parabens in the urine were also associated with DNA damage in the sperm, resulting in a slower-moving sperm that may contribute to infertility by being unable to travel far enough to reach an egg. - REUTERS