Impact of the professional exposure on the spermatic parameters and the results of ICSI at Tunisian unfertile couples

Abstract

Introduction: The association of the professional exposure to the decline of the male reproductive function had been the subject of several studies but without arriving to one envisagement undeniable of its existence. The ICSI, technique of reference in severe male infertilities, is visavis unexplained failures whose environmental and professional exposure could be about its cause partly. In this work, we tried to highlight an association between certain factors of professional exposure and the deterioration of the spermatic parameters, then to evaluate the effect of such factors on the result of the ICSI. Materials and Methods: It is about a study of the exposed type—no exposed, realized through collaboration between the Unit of Medicine of the Reproduction and the Service of Medicine of Work of the CHU Farhat Hached of Sousse. This study was based on a questionnaire of which part of the items was collected medical files of the patients raising the general characteristics, the profile of exposure as well as the spermatic parameters and the biological assessment of ICSI. Results: Significant associations between the deterioration of sperm and the professional risk factors such as the exposure to the formaldehydes (p = 0.01) and heat (p = 0.001) were noted. The exposure to formaldehydes was associated at the higher risk of oli gozoospermy, of asthenozoospermy with a significant reduction in mobility (p = 0.05), whereas the talks with cement had a risk higher of teratozoospermy. In addition an exposure to heat was associated at the high risk of oligoteratozoospermy. The total rate of pregnancies after ICSI among 220 patients of our series was of 14.47%. The ICSI balance showed a reduction in total fertility rate (76.6% exposed vs 75.3% no exposed). Conclusion: In spite of the limited number of the patients, this study had shown a correlation between certain professional exposures of origin and the deterioration of sperm. They are preliminary results which encourage continuing collaboration between the specialists in the reproduction and the doctors of work in order to preserve the fertility of the workers exposed to factors gonadotoxic.