Pregnant women are being warned not to use perfumes or cosmetics that contain these chemicals after research has shown that may cause unborn boys to eventually suffer infertility or testicular cancer.
Infertility and Testicular Cancer Worldwide Problem
Infertility and testicular cancer are growing medical problems across the world. Up to 8% of boys are thought to be born with undescended testicles, which is the most common birth defect in boys and linked to infertility. The condition is also a risk factor for developing testicular cancer later in life.
Sperm quality and number have declined during the last 30 years. In a study in the United Kingdom, it was found that one in seven couples will have trouble conceiving at some time. One third of the time, the causes are due to problems in the man. In addition, research shows that in the UK, the annual number of new cases of testicular cancer grew from 850 in 1975 to 1,889 in 2004 and has increased worldwide by between 1 percent and 6 percent a year.
Recent Research on the Affects of Chemicals
Professor Richard Sharpe, an investigator at the Medical Research Council's Human Sciences Unit has found that research carried out on rats showed evidence of damage within a "time window" of 8 to 12 weeks' gestation. (Scotsman on Sunday 8/31/08). He found that future problems with male fertility including undescended testicles, low sperm count and the risk of testicular cancer could be determined at this time if these hormones, such as testosterone, do not work properly. The experiments confirmed that if the hormones are blocked, the animals suffered fertility problems.
According to Dr. Sharpe, it has been found that the male programming window, which occurs far earlier in fetal development than was previously thought, before the reproductive organs are fully developed, is when the androgens such as testosterone in the fetus are at their most active. In his opinion, if the male fetus does not receive enough androgens it may not realize its full reproductive potential, including the size of the penis and testes, undescended testes or the sperm count. He advises that pregnant women should stop using body creams and perfume because often women do not know that they have already conceived a child at the early stages of pregnancy.
Animals vs Human Research
Susan Seenan of the Infertility Network UK advises women not to become alarmed or panic because these are animal studies and until the research has been done on humans, while women should use caution, they should not panic.
The research on how perfumes and cosmetics with these chemicals affect unborn boys will continue. Meanwhile, caution in using these products is considered a wise precaution.
