A group of scientists in Edinburgh have found that common genital disorders, low sperm count an testicular cancer, the usual male fertility problems, are linked to low hormone levels or androgens in the gestation period, precisely from weeks eight to 12.
Studying rodents, the researchers also found that the androgen hormon level at this time of pregnancy was related to the distance between the base of the penis and the anus.
This could be an early warning system of future reproductive problems in baby boys, as reported in the latest edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
The study’s lead author, Michelle Welsh, said: “We know from other studies that androgens work during foetal development to programme the reproductive tract. But our assumption was that it would be much later in pregnancy”.
“We would suggest that this measurement, even at this later stage in life, could offer an indication of hormone exposure. For example, the shorter the distance, the less confident we can be that hormones have acted correctly and at the right time,“ he added.
Leading experts in this field have welcomed the research but have raised doubts too.