Long-term effect of exposure to mustard gas on male infertility

نویسندگان

1 Departments of Urology,

2 Obstetrics and Gynecology,

3 Pharmacology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

doi
چکیده

Background: Sulfur mustard is a noxious chemical and a carcinogen that causes acute andchronic injuries with both local and systemic effects. This study was conducted to investigatethe long-term effect of sulfur mustard (mustard gas) on male infertility in couples, inwhom the husbands were highly suspected of being exposed to mustard gas.Methods: A total of 91 couples, in whom men, highly suspicious of being exposed to mustardgas during the Iran-Iraq war, were fully examined by an urologist and a gynecologist,and urged to provide semen for three standard sperm analyses.Results: Of 91 couples, 40 were infertile 10 years after given that the frequency is approximately10-12% in normal population. In addition, thorough examination of the wivesby a Gynecologist showed that of the foregoing 40 infertile couples, 8 (20%) of women sufferedfrom infertility problems. The infertility of the remaining 32 (80%) was due to malefactors as compared with 40-50% in the normal population. The results of the present researchdemonstrated that in the population under study, male factors had greater impacton infertility.Conclusion: The exposure of males to mustard gas played a distinct role in long term infertility.

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