Much attention has been paid to the problems of female infertility resulting from the impact of social changes on age dependent egg dysfunction. This problem is a focus of other research programs at the BioCurrents Research Center not highlighted this year.
Male infertility is, however, an increasing problem.
Recent observations suggest a disturbing decrease in male fertility has occurred in the human male population over the last 50 years. A variety of environmental and occupational factors, such as environmental estrogens, antiandrogens, polychlorinated biphenyls, fungicides and pesticides may act on both fetal development and show postnatal effects reducing male fertility. Heavy metals have also been shown to impact on a variety of factors related to reproductive capacity in men and experimental animals. In order to fairly assess the impact of such factors on the male population, and whether any corrective therapies can be devised for male fertility problems, it is essential to understand the underlying cellular mechanisms of sperm production, maturation and performance. Additionally, understanding these areas further offers the possibility of controlling male fertility, much as aural contraceptives have done for female reproductive strategies.