Study Links Male Infertility to Higher Familial Cancer Risks

New research reveals that men with low or no sperm counts have a significantly increased risk of cancer among their relatives, suggesting genetic or environmental factors may be at play.

• Families of men with no sperm face up to a 156% increased risk for certain cancers, including bone, joint, lymphomas, and thyroid cancers.
• Relatives of men with low sperm counts also show elevated risks for bone and joint cancer and testicular cancer, with some variations in risk levels between families.
• A surprising finding reveals a 61% lower risk for esophageal cancer in these groups, hinting at complex genetic and environmental interactions.
• The study, led by Dr. Joemy Ramsay at the University of Utah, analyzed semen samples from 786 men and compared them with data from 5674 fertile men.
• Further research is needed to unravel the genetic threads connecting male infertility with increased cancer risks in families, aiming for better risk assessment and prevention strategies.

4 Articles

UPI BNN Breaking BNN Breaking New Scientist