Bisphenol A as a potential hazardous compound on male reproductive function : A mini-review

Abstract

Background: Male factor infertility contributes for ~50% of the overall cases of infertility. Several causes have been attributed to male factor infertility,which may be pre-testicular, testicular, or post-testicular factors. Exposure to gonadotoxins is nowadays an increasing etiology of male factor infertility,at either the environmental or occupational levels. One of the commonly encountered gonadotoxins is bisphenol A, a xenoestrogen that carries a potential risk on male fertility potential at various levels in several animal species and humans, thus negatively affecting the reproductive capacity (i.e. Spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis) as well as deteriorating sperm quality and functions. Besides that, growing evidence has shown that it may carry a hazardous risk that may lead to other health problems and diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Hereby, we focus on the negative effect of bisphenol A exposure on male reproductive function with an up-to-date review of literature.