title: Semen quality and reproductive hormones according to birthweight and body mass index in childhood and adult life: two decades of follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between childhood body mass index (BMI), birth weight, and adulthood BMI, and adult semen quality and level of reproductive hormones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up study.
  
  
  METHODS
  From a pregnancy cohort established in 1984-1987.
  
  
  METHODS
  347 out of 5,109 sons were selected for a study conducted 2005 to 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen and blood samples were related to information on BMI in boys (5-8 years), birth weight, and adult BMI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen characteristics and reproductive hormones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither childhood BMI, birth weight, nor adulthood BMI were significantly associated with semen quality. Men with the 33% highest childhood BMI had 15% lower sex hormone binding globulin, 8% lower testosterone, and 16% lower FSH than men with the 33% lowest childhood BMI. Men with high adulthood BMI had 14% lower testosterone, 9% lower inhibin B, 31% lower sex hormone binding globulin, and 20% higher estradiol than men with low adulthood BMI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results do not indicate an effect of childhood BMI, birth weight, or adult BMI on semen quality, but the exposure contrast in our study was limited. The hormonal status was affected by adult BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. ceciraml@rm.dk
authors.forename: Cecilia Høst
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ramlau-Hansen
authors.forename: Maj
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Cecilie Rutkjaer
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Jørn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: Ane Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Thulstrup