Recent cadmium exposure among male partners may affect oocyte fertilization during in vitro fertilization (IVF)

Purpose: We recently reported evidence suggesting associations between urine cadmium concentrations, reflecting long-term exposure, measured in 25 female patients (relative risk=1.41, P=0.412) and 15 of their male partners (relative risk=0.19, P=0.097) and oocyte fertilization in vitro. Blood cadmium concentrations reflect more recent exposure. Methods: We here incorporate those measures into our prior data set and employ multivariable log-binomial regression models to generate hypotheses concerning the relative effects of long-term and recent cadmium exposure on oocyte fertilization in vitro. Results: No association is indicated for blood cadmium from women and oocyte fertilization, adjusted for urine cadmium and creatinine, blood lead and mercury, age, race/ethnicity and cigarette smoking (relative risk=0.88, P=0.828). However, we suggest an inverse adjusted association between blood cadmium from men and oocyte fertilization (relative risk=0.66, P=0.143). Conclusions: These results suggest that consideration of long-term and recent exposures are both important for assessing the effect of partner cadmium levels on oocyte fertilization in vitro.