It is understood by most that the actions and activities of a women who is pregnant can significantly affect the outcome of the unborn child. Women are told to quit taking harmful medications, stop using alcohol and cigarettes, and even to limit exposure to saunas and spas to protect the delicate development of the child. But a new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that fatherly activities prior to conception may also affect outcome.
The study was done at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia. Children who had unique forms of brain cancer were enrolled and parental exposure to various energy forms known to affect brain development were assessed. More than 300 children with brain cancer and parental sets were enrolled as were an equal number of matched controls (minus brain cancer).
Both the mother and father were questioned regarding exposure to heat and sources of electromagnetic energy during the period prior to conception and the first trimester. At first analysis both mother's and father's sauna and heat exposure was significantly associated with brain tumor development. Then secondary analysis excluded maternal sauna and heat exposure from having any relationship with brain tumor risk.
But paternal exposure just prior to conception remained to be significantly coorelated with brain tumor development. Other sources of heat exposure exceeding body temperature were also associated with tumor development. Electromagnetic sources had no coorelation.
This is the first study to show that paternal heat exposure prior to conception could possibly affect the genetic material contained within the sperm. Other studies have long proved that heat exposure lowers sperm count and decreases the motility. It may be possible that some sperm are damaged, but viable enough to fertilize the egg.
The damaged sperm may increase likelyhood that brain tumors develop, but at this point the evidence is still in the early stages. The authors do not suggest that any clinical changes need to be made, but in general men who are attempting pregnancy with their partners are already cautioned to avoid spas and saunas becuase the heat exposure does lower sperm count and motility, making it more difficult to conceive.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on August 7, 2006 02:33 PM
