Men exposed to high levels of the chemical bisphenol-A report erection problems and lower sex drive

In a new study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, researchers with Kaiser Permanente compared self-reported sexual function scores among male factory workers in China who were and were not exposed to bisphenol-A (BPA) on the job. BPA levels among the occupationally exposed men were about 50 times higher than average levels among American men and Chinese men with no occupational exposure to the chemical, the researchers say.

Compared to the unexposed factory workers in the study, BPA-exposed workers were four times more likely to report erectile dysfunction, low sexual desire, and less than optimal satisfaction with their sex lives. They were seven times more likely to report problems with ejaculation.
The researchers say that the findings must be replicated to prove the link between high levels of exposure to BPA and sexual dysfunction in men and that they also need to study lower levels of exposure closer to those consumers get.

Earlier research has linked BPA exposure to reproduction problems in animals, but the five-year study is the first to do so in humans.

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First Published in November 2009

 

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