Risk of testicular cancer in subfertile men: case-control study.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between subfertility in men and the subsequent risk of testicular cancer.


METHODS
Population based case-control study.


METHODS
The Danish population.


METHODS
Cases were identified in the Danish Cancer Registry; controls were randomly selected from the Danish population with the computerised Danish Central Population Register. Men were interviewed by telephone; 514 men with cancer and 720 controls participated.


METHODS
Occurrence of testicular cancer.


RESULTS
A reduced risk of testicular cancer was associated with paternity (relative risk 0.63; 95% confidence interval 0.47 to 0.85). In men who before the diagnosis of testicular cancer had a lower number of children than expected on the basis of their age, the relative risk was 1.98 (1.43 to 2.75). There was no corresponding protective effect associated with a higher number of children than expected. The associations were similar for seminoma and non-seminoma and were not influenced by adjustment for potential confounding factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These data are consistent with the hypothesis that male subfertility and testicular cancer share important aetiological factors.
Centre for Research in Health and Social Statistics, Danish National Research Foundation, Sejrogade 11, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark.
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Skakkebaek
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010334:Paternity; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology