Reproductive disorders impotence

The purpose of this chapter is to review the methods that are currently in use to evaluate sexual function and fertility. Sexual function and fertility are complex reproductive functions that can be affected by environmental exposures. Reproductive disorders include spontaneous abortions, impaired spermatogenesis, menstrual disorders, impotence, early menopause and others. Any disturbance in the integrity of the reproductive system can affect these functions. 

In some animals, consumption of a phytoestrogen-rich diet can cause temporary infertility and reproductive system disorders (Irvine, 1999). In humans, lower testosterone levels and a decline in human semen quality over the past century have been luiked to increased exposure to environmental endocrine disrupters (EDCs) (Sharpe and Skakkebaek, 1993). Furthermore, cases of sexual impotence have been reported in males exposed to synthetic estrogens in the pharmaceutical industry (Mattison et al., 1990). If this might be the case, the fetal-prepubertal period and Sertoli cell development would be of critical importance (Sharpe and Skakkebaek, 1993). However, an adverse effect of phytoestrogens on male fertility has yet to be proven. Recent work (Mitchell et al., 2001) addressing this point led to the conclusion that up to 40 mg/day of isoflavones over a two-month period had no effects on gonadotrophin and... 

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