Families of Infertile Men Face Higher Cancer Risks

Dr. Russel Williams and the team at The Y Factor are constantly reviewing the latest research in men’s urological and fertility care and this new update is one we wanted to share with our patients and men across Houston. So, why is it important for men to get their fertility checked at The Y Factor? New research has confirmed links between male infertility (“a deficiency or absence of viable sperm in a man’s semen”) and a heightened cancer risk for a man and his family. The findings were published in journal of Human Reproduction and found that, “Compared to control families, significant increases in cancer risks were observed in the azoospermia cohort for five cancer types: bone and joint cancers, soft tissue cancers, Hodgkin lymphomas, and thyroid cancer.”

The investigators found that “family members of men with no sperm in their semen had a 156% higher risk of bone and joint cancers; a 56% higher odds for sarcomas and other soft tissue tumors; a 27% higher risk for uterine cancer; a 60% higher odds for Hodgkin lymphoma and a 54% higher odds for thyroid tumors.” Meanwhile, “family members of men with minimal amounts of sperm in their semen faced similar odds: A 143% increase in bone and joint cancers, a 16% higher odds for colon cancer and a 134% higher risk for testicular cancer.”

The research did not explain why these links exist. Are you unaware of your sperm count or fertility status as a male in #Houston? Book your fertility appointment with a highly trained provider to help you understand your numbers!