title: Heavy metals and fertility.
abstract: Heavy metals have been identified as factors affecting human fertility. This study was designed to investigate whether the urinary heavy metal excretion is associated with different factors of infertility. The urinary heavy metal excretion was determined in 501 infertile women after oral administration of the chelating agent 2,3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonic acid (DMPS). Furthermore, the influence of trace element and vitamin administration on metal excretion was investigated. Significant correlations were found between different heavy metals and clinical parameters (age, body mass index, nationality) as well as gynecological conditions (uterine fibroids, miscarriages, hormonal disorders). Diagnosis and reduction of an increased heavy metal body load improved the spontaneous conception chances of infertile women. The DMPS test was a useful and complementary diagnostic method. Adequate treatment provides successful alternatives to conventional hormonal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and Reproduction, University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gerhard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Monga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waldbrenner
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Runnebaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001822:Body Burden; D002104:Cadmium / Q000652:urine; D002614:Chelating Agents; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine*; D008628:Mercury / Q000652:urine; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000652:urine*; D014494:Unithiol
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D006728:Hormones; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D002104:Cadmium; D014494:Unithiol; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury