The birth rate of hypospadias in the Turku area in Finland

Virtanen, Helena E.; Kaleva, Marko; Haavisto, Anne-Maarit; Schmidt, Ida Maria; Chellakooty, Marla; Main, K. M.; Skakkebæk, Niels E.; Toppari, Jorma

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0463.2001.tb05794.x

Cited by 25 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Finnish men have previously displayed better reproductive health compared with Danish men as they show better semen quality (9, 10) and markedly lower incidences of testicular cancer (19), cryptorchidism and hypospadias (8,11,12). If the cohort effect in serum testosterone levels observed in Danish men reflects their overall reproductive health (5), the Finns would be expected to show little or no cohort effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men

Perheentupa

Mäkinen²,

Laatikainen

et al. 2013

European Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: To investigate whether a population-level decline in serum testosterone exists in Finnish men. In comparison with other European populations, Finnish men have compared well in the studies of reproductive health (i.e. semen quality, incidence of cryptorchidism and testicular cancer); thus, we expected no significant cohort-dependent decrease in serum testosterone. Methods: We analysed serum levels of testosterone, gonadotrophin and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in 3271 men representing different ages (25-74 years) and birth cohorts within three large Finnish population surveys conducted in 1972, 1977 and 2002. Results: Serum testosterone levels decreased (from 25.3 nmol/l in 25-to 29-year-old men gradually to 16.9 nmol/l in 70-to 74-year-old men), whereas SHBG and gonadotrophin levels increased with increasing age. In addition, a significant secular trend in testosterone (total and free), SHBG and gonadotrophin levels was observed with lower levels in more recently born age-matched men. Serum testosterone level decreased in men aged 60-69 years from 21.9 nmol/l (men born 1913-1922) to 13.8 nmol/l (men born 1942-1951). These decreases remained significant following adjustment for BMI. An age-independent birth cohort effect existed on reproductive hormones measured in the Finnish men. In concert with the lower free testosterone levels, we observed lower gonadotrophin levels, suggesting that while there may be detrimental changes at the gonad level, the hypothalamuspituitary-axis is not responding appropriately to this change. Conclusions: The more recently born Finnish men have lower testosterone levels than their earlier born peers. This study offers no explanation for this substantial recent adverse development.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…incidence of cryptorchidism, hypospadias and testicular cancer and semen quality) (8,9,10,11,12); we questioned whether population-level changes in testosterone levels would also be apparent in Finnish men and therefore not specific to men from Denmark and New England.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men

Perheentupa

Mäkinen²,

Laatikainen

et al. 2013

European Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Of the 60 boys referred to the pediatric urologist/endocrinologist as cases of hypospadias, seven had a preputial abnormality only. A Finnish study found that during a period when 19 cases of hypospadias were diagnosed among births in one hospital, seven additional cases had a foreskin malformation alone (Virtanen et al 2001). It could be argued that incomplete prepuce is not embryologically or etiologically distinct from hypospadias and thus should be included in surveillance.…”

Section: Implementation Of Guideline To Exclude Glanular Casesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward the effective surveillance of hypospadias.

Dolk

Vrijheid

Scott

et al. 2004

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concern about apparent increases in the prevalence of hypospadias--a congenital male reproductive-tract abnormality--in the 1960s to 1980s and the possible connection to increasing exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals have underlined the importance of effective surveillance of hypospadias prevalence in the population. We report here the prevalence of hypospadias from 1980 to 1999 in 20 regions of Europe with EUROCAT (European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies) population-based congenital anomaly registers, 14 of which implemented a guideline to exclude glanular hypospadias. We also report data from the England and Wales National Congenital Anomaly System (NCAS). Our results do not suggest a continuation of rising trends of hypospadias prevalence in Europe. However, a survey of the registers and a special validation study conducted for the years 1994-1996 in nine EUROCAT registers as well as NCAS identified a clear need for a change in the guidelines for registration of hypospadias. We recommend that all hypospadias be included in surveillance, but that information from surgeons be obtained to verify location of the meatus, and whether surgery was performed, in order to interpret trends. Investing resources in repeated special surveys may be more cost-effective than continuous population surveillance. We conclude that it is doubtful whether we have had the systems in place worldwide for the effective surveillance of hypospadias in relation to exposure to potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

show abstract

“…Some reports suggest that there is a rise in the prevalence of hypospadias in several, but not all, regions (52,54,(69)(70)(71)(72)(73). However, most studies were based on registries, which have the same limitations as for cryptorchidism data (54,74). In addition, the mildest and most frequent form of hypospadia, the glanular form, is not registered at all in many registries.…”

Section: Prevalence Of Cryptorchidism and Hypospadiasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gonadal development and reproductive hormones in infant boys

Main¹,

Toppari²,

Skakkebæk³

2006

eur j endocrinol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The intrauterine milieu plays a crucial role for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in adulthood, but little is known about its impact on gonadal development and reproduction. Impaired testis development in fetal life can lead to cryptorchidism, hypospadias, impaired semen quality, and testicular cancer, disorders that may present symptoms of a testicular dysgenesis syndrome. The prevalence of these disorders appears to increase in many areas, probably due to environmental factors acting in utero. Denmark has a significantly higher incidence of testicular cancer and lower sperm quality than Finland. Methods: We conducted a population-based study of newborn boys from Denmark and Finland, in order to examine whether this geographic difference was reflected in the reproductive health of newborns. Results: Danish boys had a lower testis volume at birth, a smaller testis growth up to 18 months of age and lower serum inhibin B and FSH levels at 3 months than Finnish. Danish boys also had a higher prevalence of both cryptorchidism and hypospadias than Finnish boys. In boys with cryptorchidism and hypospadias subtle changes in hormonal levels occurred, towards increased gonadotropins and lower inhibin B in cryptorchidism. Both types of congenital malformations were more frequent in children born small for gestational age, indicative of a relationship between growth and reproductive development. Conclusions: These early postnatal findings suggest that the previously observed population differences in reproductive health between young Danish and Finnish men are of fetal origin. The differences may originate as a result of gene-environment interactions, where endocrine disrupters may also play a role.

show abstract

The birth rate of hypospadias in the Turku area in Finland

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men

A cohort effect on serum testosterone levels in Finnish men

Toward the effective surveillance of hypospadias.

Gonadal development and reproductive hormones in infant boys

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About