Author/Editor		Lerchl, Alexander; Nieschlag, Eberhard
Title		Impact of environmental temperature on human scrotal temperatures
Type		članek
Source		In: Hočevar A, Črepinšek Z, Kajfež-Bogataj L, editors. Biometeorology 14. Proceedings of the 14th international congress of biometeorology. Part 2. (Vol 3); 1996 Sep 1-8; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Slovenian meteorological society,
Publication year		1996
Volume		str. 215-21
Language		eng
Abstract		A number of studies has indicated that there may be an annual variation in sperm production in humans. However, it is not yet clear which environmental clue might cause this variation. By using a portable, digital data recorder and accurate temperature probes attached to the scrotal skin of men attending our infertility clinic, 24 h patterns of left and right scrotal temperatures were recorded. Scrotal temperatures are a good estimate of testicular temperatures. A total number of 227 patients were included in this study. Average scrotal temperatures for day and night were calculated according to the patients' recordings on activities and sleep. Air temperature recordings were provided by the local airport. Scrotal temperatures were generally higher during night, between air and scrotal temperatures were found only during the day (p<0.001). Monthly variations in scrotal temperatures were far more pronounced during the day than during the night. Moreover, the differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures were highest in November (right: 0.83 degrees C+-0.15 degrees C; left: 0.62 degrees C+-19 degrees C) and lowest in July (right: 0.0 degrees C+-0.11 degrees C; left: -0.14 degrees C+-0.10 10 degrees C) (p<0.01). We conclude that in humans scrotal temperatures underlie pronounced annual variations which are associated with annual variations of air temperature. Furthermore, annual variations in sperm production may be related to scrotal temperature variations.
Descriptors		SKIN TEMPERATURE SCROTUM INFERTILITY, MALE CIRCADIAN RHYTHM SEASONS TEMPERATURE