Male Infertility Tied to Testicular Cancer Risk

Infertile men may be at increased risk for testicular cancer, U.S. researchers report.They analyzed data from more than 22,500 men in couples who sought fertility treatment between 1967 and 1998, and also examined cancer registry data. Thirty-four of the men developed testicular cancer within a year of seeking treatment for infertility.

The researchers calculated that men in couples seeking fertility treatment were 1.3 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than those of the same age in the general population. Men with male infertility factor were 2.8 times more likely to develop testicular cancer than other men.

The study appears in the Feb. 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.