Testicular cancer and infertility

Abnormal semen analysis is associated with a small increase in risk

Paper p 789

The potential links between the detrimental environmental effects on reproduction and the worldwide increase in testicular cancer evoke huge interest in clinicians, scientists, and the public.1-3 The retrospective study by Jacobsen and colleagues in this issue (p 789) shows that men with abnormal semen analyses are at an increased risk of testicular cancer.4 These results provide more substantial evidence to support earlier studies reporting an increased incidence of testicular cancer in men who have few children for their age.5 The results show a higher risk in men with lower sperm counts, especially when combined with abnormal motility and abnormal sperm morphology, all of which suggest a more serious testicular defect.

The observation that the highest risk is found within the first two …