The AFA Blog

Insurance coverage for young adult cancer patients to preserve fertility

by Corey Whelan

Around 1.5 million American men and women are diagnosied with cancer annually.  Ten percent of those are under the age of 45 and one percent will be younger than 20.  That translates into around 70,000 young adults, all under the age of 20 years old, who will have to grapple with this disease.  Statistics aside, if you or a loved one are diagnosed with cancer, life may never be the same.  Mind reeling, you may or may not think about options for parenthood later on.  Of course, many cancer treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation may have the effect of rendering the person on the receiving end infertile.  Of course, survival is the number one goal but many cancer patients report that their ensuing infertility was just as devastating to them as their original diagnosis.

Fertility can often be preserved prior to cancer therapy beginning, for both men, women, boys and girls.  These options can be as simple as collecting and freezing sperm, or can become more complicated and expensive, including testicular needle aspiration for young boys or egg freezing for young women.

According to change.org, the vast majority of insurance comapnies and HMO's in the United States do not cover fertility preservation treatments such as those referenced above.

Currently, legislation addressing this issue is being decided upon in California.  Bill AB 428 is being sponsored by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino but your help is needed.  No matter where you live, your name on a petition requesting support of this bill will be meaningful and will not go unnoticed.  

Click here to read the petition letter and to sign it. Please.

For more information on fertility preservation and your options, click here

To watch a short video on fertility preservation, click here

Be the change.

Update on the Safe Chemicals Act - some good news from Capital Hill

by Kimberly Inez McGuire

A bit of good news for reproductive health today coming from Congress! Signaling their clear intention to protect families from toxic chemicals in everyday products, Senators Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Boxer, Amy Klobuchar, Charles Schumer and others today introduced the “Safe Chemicals Act” to upgrade America’s outdated system for managing chemical safety.  (Click here to watch video of Sen. Lautenberg talking about the bill.) This bill comes on the heels of a USA Today article highlighting the alarming rise in early puberty among girls and would go a long way toward protecting the reproductive health and fertility of millions of Americans. 

Reproductive Health Advocates to Congress: Protect Women’s Health, Pass Chemical Policy Reform

Statement by Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project, on the introduction of the Safe Chemicals Acts of 2011 by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ):

“Amid an increasingly partisan backdrop, this bill gives Americans from across the political spectrum something they have been clamoring for—better laws to protect our families from toxic and untested chemicals in everyday products. Reforming our chemical laws is a prime example of how government can work for the people by protecting our reproductive health and our children from the threat of chemicals like lead, formaldehyde, and asbestos. The introduction of the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 is a critical first step to creating a healthier tomorrow for women and their families. This bill also presents a profound opportunity to protect the most vulnerable among us, from pregnant women and children to low-income communities and communities of color, which are disproportionately affected by toxic chemicals.”

Statement by Tracey Woodruff, PhD, Director, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment at the University of California San Francisco, former EPA scientist, and Board member of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project:

 “Mounting scientific evidence demonstrates that commonly-used chemicals can harm reproductive health and contribute to infertility, miscarriage, early puberty, and decreased sperm counts. Thousands of other chemicals have never been studied. It’s time to use current science to study chemicals used in everyday products, place common-sense limits on those that can adversely impact our health, and provide consumers with the information they need to protect their families.”

 Background: The Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 will provide long overdue reform of the 35-year-old federal law that regulates toxic chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This new legislation would give the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stronger authority to test and regulate the 84,000 chemicals on the market today. Studies have linked exposure to many commonly used chemicals, such as bisphenol A (BPA), to a host of reproductive health problems including infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, early puberty in girls, low sperm counts, and breast cancer.

 For more information about this legislation and how toxic chemicals impact reproductive health and fertility, please visit: http://www.rhtp.org/fertility/SafeChemicalsAct2011.asp

Kimberly Inez McGuire is the Senior Associate, Programs & Policy Reproductive Health Technologies Project
www.rhtp.org / www.judgment-to-empathy.org

For more information about this bill, or how you can support efforts to reduce toxic chemical exposure, please contact [email protected] or 202-530-4401.

Preventing Infertility at the Prom

by Merry Armentrout

April is an exciting month.  For me, it's a reward for surviving the long New Hampshire winter.  I'm now able to walk outside without wearing fifty layers of clothes, and I swear I'm starting to see the grass in my front yard once again.  My 17 year-old neighbor has been looking forward to April for months, but it has nothing to do with the weather.  April is prom season.  I know from prior experience it's all about "the dress" and "the date".  She has both.  I had the privilege of helping her shop for "the dress", but I'm thankful my responsibilities end there.  It's now her parent's turn to talk to her about "the date".  

We all know the prom can sometimes include other activities besides dancing.  Some teens will opt to become sexually active to varying degrees during this time of their lives.  While that is a personal choice that hopefully will be guided by the teen's individual maturity level and belief systems, all teens should be made aware that April is STD Awareness Month .  This is a great time to talk with the young men and women in your life about the importance of practicing safe sex, for a multitude of reasons, including preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) which can be linked to infertility later on in life. The American Fertility Association is working hard to educate the public about infertility prevention.

There is a connection between sexually transmitted diseases and infertility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 19 million new STDs and also STI's (sexually transmitted infections) occur each year, almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24.  It has also been reported that by the age of 24, one in three sexually active people will have one or more STIs, and over the course of a lifetime up to 75 percent of sexually active women and men will get an STI of some kind. 

Dr. Jacqueline Gutmann with Reprodutive Medicine Associates of Philadelphia says, "STIs can also cause infertility, in part because they often display few, if any visible symptoms. Because women and men are frequently unaware that they have an STI, they do not to seek treatment, which further threatens their fertility."

Dr. Gutmann recently published a fact sheet for The AFA on the effect of STDs on infertility where she breaks down the disease for both men and women. In women, chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as other bacteria, can cause pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which is an infection that travels upward from the vagina through the cervix to the uterus and fallopian tubes.  This infection can lead to scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes.  PID can occur in up to almost half of untreated chlamydia and gonorrhea infections.  Over one million women each year seek treatment for PID in the United States; more than 100,000 women become infertile because of this disease, and the vast majority are unaware of the that it is happening.

In men, chlamydia and gonorrhea can travel upwards from the urethra all the way to the testicles. This can cause permanent sterility in men in a number of ways.  The scarring from the infection can block the passage of sperm.  In addition, injury to the testicles from an infection can interfere with sperm production and function.  Approximately 15% of male infertility is from STIs.

Dr. Mark Trolice of Fertility C.A.R.E in Winter Park, Florida says, "If hypertension is considered the silent killer then acquiring an STIs, particularly Chlamydia trachomatis, should be considered the silent killer of reproduction because of its damaging effects to the fallopian tubes.  Following an STI, ectopic pregnancy (a serious and life-threatening complication) increases from a baseline of 2% to 8%.  The incidence of tubal factor infertility increases 7-fold, 16-fold, and 28-fold, following one, two, and three STIs to the fallopian tubes (salpingitis), respectively.  Healthcare providers performing aggressive screening and prompt treatment of STIs may reduce the damage to reproductive potential."

The bottom line is, young men and women aren't thinking about preserving their fertility whether they're going to a prom, are starting freshman year at college or just entering the workforce, but they should.  Dealing with infertility is an emotional and physical battle, and The AFA wants to help as many people as possible avoid such a fate. 

Protecting reproductive health from dangerous chemicals

by Corey Whelan

I was privileged to attend a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. yesterday, specific to toxic chemical exposure and reproductive health.  The briefing was coordinated through the Reproductive Health Technologies Project and the Guttmacher Institute, as well as Congressional Reps. Louise Slaughter (D,NY), Diana DeGette (D,CO), Lois Capps (D,CA) and Rosa DeLauro (D,CT).

The panel of speakers was comprised of moderator Kirsten Moore, President & CEO of the Reproductive Health Technologies Project; Katie Huffling RN, MS, CNM, Environmental Health Program Coordinator of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Celinda Lake, President of Lake Research Partners, Andy Igrejas, Director of Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families, and Elizabeth Nash, Public Policy Associate of the Guttmacher Institute.

One of the stated goals of yesterday's briefing was to move forward, through verifiable scientific data as well as statistical analysis of public opionion, regulatory changes that could positively impact upon the levels of toxic chemicals that Americans are routinely exposed to, thereby reducing risks to reproductive health and overall health.  

The most significant fact brought forth to me personally, was the verification that over 200 scientific studies have definitively and negatively implicated BPA (bisphenol A) in cases of cancer, metabollic disorders, premature puberty, male factor infertility and reproductive health issues.  

A number of important findings and action plans were brought forth by both the speakers and the audience.  These included:

NIEHS (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences) - All complex diseases have been shown to have both a genetic and environmental component.  A growing body of research is beginning to suggest that many adult diseases and disorders, including asthma, diabetes and obesity, may be traced back to exposures that occur during development.  Research supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and others are finding that in utero or neonatal exposures to environmental changes may make people more susceptible to diseases later in life.  In addition, a growing body of evidence suggests that numerous man-made chemicals may interfere with the endocrine system.  Scientists refer to these chemicals as endocrine disruptors.  Endocrine disruption is an important public health concern.

Guttmacher Institute Policy Review - In a long-awaited announcement, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially acknowledged concern about the effects of bisphenol A on the health of fetuses, infants and young children.  The statement marked a notable refersal of the agency's earlier position that BPA did not pose a health risk to humans.  Equally notable, however, was the fact that the FDA took no steps to restrict BPA's use.  Instead, it provided recommendations for parents to reduce exposure and said the government would continue to study the chemical's toxicity.

Safer Chemicals Healthy Families - A reformed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would serve as the backbone of a sound and comprehensive chemicals policy that protects public health and the environment, while restoring the luster of safety to U.S. goods in the world market.

There was much more.  It is understandable that the American public is, and should be, concerned about our daily toxin exposure, and the number one action item on anyone's list should be to keep in touch with your Congressional and Senatorial representatives about this issue.  Everyone needs an action plan.  Several potential and key, proactive behavioral changes were suggested by the Reproductive Health Technologies Project:

• Refuse Receipts, as the powdery coating on them contains BPA.
• Keep Plastic Cool, as heat causes chemicals to leach out of them and into food
• Leave Shoes at the Door, to keep pesticides and other chemicals out of your home
• Don't Be Fooled by Fragrance, and avoid cosmetics and cleaning products that list fragrance as an ingredient.  It is code for phthalates, another known endocrine disruptor
• Look Up Your Lipstick - check it out at http://cosmeticdatabase.com
• Filter Your Drinking Water, to remove common contaminants like arsenic and lead
• Buy BPA Free, if your product does not contain BPA it will say so on the label
• Toss the Teflon, as this chemical has been linked to cancer and early menopause
• Limit Canned Food, another known source of BPA
• Dust, Vacuum and Mop Frequently, to cut down on chemcials that accumulate in household dust

The American Fertility Association is proud to be aligned with powerful, proactive advocates who are working for the public good.  For more information on endocrine disruptors and fertility, visit The AFA's library.

 

 

Radiation and sperm

by Craig Niederberger, M.D., F.A.C.S.

The horrific earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan remind us that no matter how powerful we become or careful we are, nature asserts itself in ways that we can’t imagine.  The nuclear engineers and technicians working to contain the radiation leaking from the damaged power plant in Fukushima are nothing short of heroic.  Radiation can cause all sorts of ills, from acute sickness to cancer and infertility.

In the testis, developing sperm cells are exquisitely sensitive to radiation.  Kyodo News reported that after an explosion at the Fukushima No. 2 reactor on March 15, radiation levels measured as high as 8,217 micro sievert or 0.8217 rem per hour.  (Micro sievert and rem are units of radiation dosage.)

Does that amount of radiation harm developing sperm cells?  I asked Marvin Meistrich, Ph.D., Professor of Experimental Radiation Oncology and the Florence M. Thomas Professor of Cancer Research at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, a world’s expert in radiation and sperm.  Dr. Meistrich explained that sustained exposure to 20 rem of radiation over 4 weeks caused sperm counts to drop to 1/10th of their original amount.  At doses of 40-80 rem, sperm counts fell to about 1/100th of the starting number, and in some cases were wiped out entirely.  At 200 rem, that drop to zero sperm became permanent. For one-time doses, Dr. Meistrich explained that 15-20 rem caused a short-term fall in sperm count, and 400 rem or more resulted in permanent loss of sperm.

We know that radiation changes DNA, the sperm’s precious genetic cargo.  What we don’t know is what dose causes a harmful DNA change that damages a developing embryo or causes disease later in life.

The radiation leakage in Fukushima seems to be in the range at which damage to sperm occurs.  I can only hope that the workers at Fukushima and the people near the plants are aware of the dangers and take action to protect themselves.

Experts at UN Meeting Urge Action to Combat Environmental Causes of Cancer.

Important and significant actions designed to reduce or eliminate environmental toxins in the workplace were urged today by experts attending a United Nations convened scientific meeting.  Interestingly, many of the same toxins known to contribute to escalating cancer rates world wide have also been linked in multiple studies to infertility and birth defects of various types.  The press release appears in its entirety here:

EXPERTS AT UN MEETING URGE ACTION TO COMBAT ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES OF CANCER.

UN press release

(New York; 18 March,  2011)

Medical experts attending a United Nations-convened scientific meeting today called for action to address preventable environmental and occupational causes of cancer, noting that nearly one in five of all cases of cancers are attributable to the environment, including work settings.

“Many environmental and occupational factors, including certain chemicals, radiation and airborne particles, can cause cancer,” said Maria Neira, the Director for Public Health and Environment at the UN World Health Organizations (WHO), which convened the meeting in the Spanish Principality of Asturias.

“These cancers could be prevented and reduced by changes in national and international policy to limit people’s involuntary exposure to these substances,” she added.

The cancers related to the environment, which comprise roughly 19 per cent of all cancers and cause 1.3 million deaths each year, are often the result of situations where people have limited control over the quality of air they breathe, the water they drink, and the level of chemical contamination in indoor and outdoor environments and at places of work.

In their “Asturias Pledge,” the experts urged governments to include environmental and occupational preventive measures in their national cancer control programmes, and ensure enforcement of national and international standards for environmental and occupational carcinogens.

They recommended that WHO lead a global effort in highlighting the importance of primary prevention of cancer, assess the impact of environmental and occupational interventions on primary prevention of cancer, and develop guidance for implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Civil society should raise awareness about practices and processes that increase carcinogenic risks, raise awareness, educate and advocate for funding to implement effective primary prevention of those types of cancers, the experts suggested.

Industry, for its part, should support and implement measures aimed at preventing the cancers. It should also contribute to policy development relating to the mitigation of occupational risks and workers’ exposures; eliminate or reduce exposure to known and probable carcinogens, and better inform workers on the risks they face in the workplace and protect them from carcinogens.

Reducing and eventually eliminating the exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens is the most effective way to prevent a number of cancers, according to WHO. Stopping the use of asbestos can prevent lung cancer, mesothelioma and cancers of the larynx and ovaries, for example. Replacement of benzene with safer solvents will prevent leukaemia, the agency said.

 

Asturias Pledge

Environmental and Occupational Determinants of Cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention

Asturias (Aviles and Gijon), Spain

17 – 18 March 2011

http://www.who.int/phe/news/events/international_conference/Call_for_action_en.pdf

 

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Environmental and occupational risk factors are estimated to be a substantial contributor to the cancer burden, many of them are modifiable and often result from involuntary exposure of populations, but have yet to be seriously addressed by cancer prevention programmes. The burden of cancer is currently shifting towards heavily populated low- and middle-income countries and is predicted to increase due to a rise in life expectancy as a result of economic development. Therefore, environmental and occupational interventions are key for reducing the incidence and mortality of cancer, can be cost-effective and contribute to the overall well-being of communities.

 

In line with World Health Assembly Resolution WHA58.22 on Cancer Prevention and Control, where countries were urged to pay special attention to cancers for which risk factors are avoidable, including environmental and occupational factors, we, the participants in the first WHO International Conference on "Environmental and occupational determinants of cancer: Interventions for Primary Prevention", call for a broad, public health driven response bringing together public heath, environmental, occupational and cancer control communities in a multi-sectoral and collaborative approach, to tackle known and preventable causes of cancer, using scientific evidence to raise awareness and promote environmental and occupational interventions in support of primary preventive measures:

 

 

TO GOVERNMENTS

1. Further develop surveillance of the burden of cancer, support research and build capacities for systematic identification and measurement of environmental and occupational risk factors as part of national cancer control programmes.

 

2. Include and implement evidence-based environmental and occupational preventive measures as part of policies, legislation and regulations, creating synergies among public health programmes, with NGOs and private and public institutions.

 

3. Adopt and enforce national and international legislation for protection against environmental and occupational carcinogens.

 

4. Support campaigns for behavioural change, including in the work place, to protect individuals from environmental and occupational cancer risks, through innovative approaches and collaboration with the media, and using easily accessible public information about the risks and protection measures.

 

 

 

 

TO WHO

1. Lead a global effort to highlight the importance of primary prevention of cancer through healthy environments, raising awareness and bringing together public heath, environmental, occupational and cancer control communities.

 

2. Shape the research cancer agenda so as to take account of environmental- and occupational-related cancers, including a better characterization of causes and assessment of the effectiveness of behavioural change and environmental and occupational interventions for the primary prevention of cancer.

 

3. Encourage governments to include environmental and occupational prevention measures as part of national cancer control programmes.

 

4. Develop guidance for the implementation of evidence-based environmental and occupational interventions based on population needs assessments.

 

5. Support the implementation of environmental and occupational prevention measures in developing countries and countries in transition through technical assistance, training and other means.

 

6. To support implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the World Health Assembly Resolution WHA60.23 on Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: implementation of the global strategy.

 

7. Encourage governments to provide funding to further study environmental factors as potential causes of cancer and to support primary prevention of cancer due to known environmental and occupational risk factors.

 

8. Establish a coordinated network of institutions at national and international level to support policy development and implementation of primary prevention measures for environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

 

TO CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS

1. Increase awareness raising about environmental and occupational determinants of cancer.

 

2. Advocate for the enforcement of national and international standards for exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens and to enhance protection of workers.

 

3. Further develop innovative campaigns and strategies to raise awareness about individual behavioural change to support primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

4. Strengthen involvement in policy development and implementation related to the mitigation of environmental and occupational risks.

 

5. Advocate for research on environmental- and occupational-related cancers and on effectiveness of prevention measures, including those related to behavioural change.

 

6. Advocate for funding to tackle primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers, including support for awareness raising, education, and wider implementation of measures known to be effective.

 

7. Support the development of a global network of international environmental-, occupational- and health-related NGOs to advocate for the introduction of environmental and occupational aspects to the global cancer agenda, and with other actors to engage with the media in support of primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers.

 

 

TO INDUSTRY AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

1. Incorporate measures for primary prevention of environmental- and occupational-related cancers into existing corporate initiatives and business management programmes.

 

2. Where necessary, develop substitutes, products, technologies and processes to eliminate the use of carcinogens, evaluate their effectiveness and support international technology and information transfer.

 

3. Provide information to governments, workers and consumers about hazardous substances and products, ensure clear labelling and responsible marketing.

 

4. Train workers, suppliers and sub-contractors in preventing exposures to carcinogens and establish prevention and mitigation measures.

 

5. Partner with governments and civil society groups in support of primary prevention of cancer.

 

BPA and sperm

by Craig Niederberger, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Bis-phenol A, or “BPA”, is everywhere.  It’s a chemical commonly found in plastic bottles, like those holding sodas and water.  It leeches out from the plastic container, and seeps into the drink.  To the body, it looks like the female hormone estrogen, and may throw male hormones out of whack.

Mounting evidence suggests that BPA is bad for sperm, slowing the soldiers and lowering their numbers. Look for “BPA Free” on bottles if you want your sperm to be the best that they can be.

 

The Story of Testosterone

by Craig Niederberger, M.D., F.A.C.S.

When you think of what makes up the inside of the testes, think spaghetti. Imagine a bunch of spaghetti noodles squished together. Inside of the noodles are the developing sperm cells. Between the noodles are cells called “Leydig cells” whose job it is to make the male hormone testosterone. They start with cholesterol, and churn out testosterone.

Not only is testosterone critical to the factory inside the spaghetti that makes sperm, it is important for many parts of the male body to work well. Adequate testosterone is needed for bone and muscle strength, and men with low testosterone may experience low sex drive, problems with mental focus and depression.

The relationship between testosterone and how the penis works is less clear. Men with low testosterone can get erections, but of course sex drive can be a problem. And if a man’s testosterone is low, correcting it may improve the performance of drugs like Viagra, Levitra and Cialis.

Total testosterone doesn’t tell you the whole story. Testosterone circulates in the blood in two forms. Testosterone that is either free or loosely bound to blood protein is called “bioavailable”, and as the name implies, is available for the cells to work. Testosterone that is bound to sex hormone binding globulin (“SHBG”, but also called androgen binding protein,) is blocked from acting in cells. Although many labs offer to measure free testosterone, often the most reliable way to measure bioavailable testosterone is to have the blood tested for albumin, sex hormone binding globulin and testosterone, and then to use a calculator for bioavailable testosterone. One is available on the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male’s web site, and another for iPhones and iPod touches can be found in the iTunes store. A man may have adequate total testosterone, but still suffer from the ravages of low testosterone levels if his bioavailable testosterone is low.

Testosterone levels rise and fall during the day, with a peak in the early morning, and the lowest point in the late afternoon. That’s why many a man’s sex drive is highest in the morning, and it’s time for a nap in the afternoon.

Testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone, which makes the hair fall out of your hair follicles if your family tree has male pattern baldness. Dihydrotestosterone also enlarges the prostate. Drugs like finasteride (Propecia and Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart) block the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone.

All men have a little estrogen, the female hormone. An enzyme called “aromatase” converts testosterone to estrogen. If the estrogen level is too high, it may interfere with the working of testosterone.

One last important point about the making of testosterone: levels in the testis are twenty times greater than in the blood. So if a man is given testosterone, his blood levels may increase, but the pituitary tells the testis, “hey, there’s enough testosterone around, so stop making it.” As a result, testosterone levels in the testis fall, sperm stop being made, and the testes shrink. That’s why many body builders who take testosterone and other similar chemicals experience shrinking testes. Testosterone can be great for men with low levels later in life, but for men who want to have children, it can really work against sperm production.

 

The Human Experiment

by Corey Whelan

When my phone rang and the voice on the other end said it was Dana Nachman, you could have knocked me over with a feather.  She didn't know it yet, but I have been a fan of Dana's since she produced a film with Don Hardy on 9/11 (which won an Emmy, by the way).  Those of you who read this blog regularly know how that day affected my family personally.  I liked the work Dana did on that documentary, and when she told me she was currently working on a film focusing on environmental toxins and its impact on human health, I got really excited.  Dana wants to put a human face on this issue, and what could be more human than the face of infertility?  Given The AFA's strong commitment to chemical avoidance, however, I had a couple questions.  

Q: Tell us about the film in just a few sentences. 

A: “The Human Experiment” is about the thousands of chemicals we come in contact with everyday. They’re in our cosmetics and other personal care products, our cleaning supplies, our furniture and our electronics. Many of these products have not been tested for their safety. Meanwhile, many diseases and conditions such as certain cancers, autism, learning disabilities and infertility are on the rise and no one is really sure why. “The Human Experiment” is following 7 people who believe chemicals are responsible for these detrimental changes in our health. These people are on a quest to make chemical companies accountable for their products, so that we’re no longer guinea pigs in this giant human experiment.

 Q: Your past films have been about things like wrongful conviction and responses to terrorism, so this topic is somewhat of a departure. Why did you want to make this film?

A: I was working as a producer at NBC in the San Francisco Bay Area when I first learned about this issue. I did a series about household products and toxins. For that story, I interviewed a UC Berkeley professor who told me about how indoor air quality is typically way worse than outdoor air quality… even if the outdoor air we’re talking about is right next to an oil refinery. He said it is because of all of the products that we use. He described homes as toxic boxes and that imagery always stuck with me. I found myself leaving my doors and windows open all the time! After leaving NBC and finishing my other films I realized (much like with the other films) that it wasn’t a matter of whether or not we were going to do this film… we had to do it! The subject is just that outrageous and it needs to be exposed in a big way.

 Q: As you've researched this topic more, what has most surprised you about the issue of chemical exposure?

A: Really it’s the most basic premise of the movie that I find most shocking, that products do not have to be tested for their safety before they reach the marketplace. I really had no idea this was the case!

 Q: How did your research bring you to the infertility storyline and why do you want to include this in the film?

A: It wasn’t long after I began looking into the issue more deeply that I came across the work of Linda Giudice and Tracey Woodruff at UCSF.  They have been studying the increasingly strong links between environmental exposures and reproductive health problems. They report that in certain areas in the U.S. sperm count in men is down by more than 50% and that the amount of women who are under 25 who report having trouble conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy has doubled since the 1980’s. The statistics go on and on. Another thing that has been on the rise in the same timeframe is our use and exposure to chemicals. We feel strongly that this potential connection needs to be exposed.

 Q: I have to ask, how has working on this film changed what you do in your personal life?

A:  It’s changed what I do in so many ways. I’m extremely mindful now of what I’m buying. I buy with a purpose. And this is across the board – from food, to cosmetics, to cleaning supplies. I want to spend my money on products that I know are not going to harm my family. I think the companies that have this sensibility should be rewarded with my money.

 Q: What are the top 2-3 things you want people to take away from this film after they've seen it?

A: Well, I think #1 is that these products are not vetted and it’s up to all of us to pressure companies – through our voices and our wallets - to make products that are safe.

#2) Someone I talked to recently said that they think this is the next big woman’s issue. I love thinking of it in this way, that woman are standing up to industry saying, “We’ve had enough. And it’s time to give us products that are safe.”

#3) And the third thing is that we can influence politicians to create a climate where the government can do what it’s suppose to do and protect us from harm.

 Q: Okay, so when can we see the film and what can we do now?

A: We just started shooting the film in December and will be shooting for the rest of 2011. We are still looking for some of the key characters who will make this film hit home for viewers. That’s why were coming to you at The American Fertility Association. We would like to profile someone who is affected by infertility who believes chemicals are at least partially to blame and who is trying to work towards educating others about toxic chemicals and the need for reform. If anyone is interested in letting us share their story in our film, please reach out to me at [email protected]

 You can also follow The Human Experiment on Facebook and Twitter! Join our Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/TheHumanExperiment. And follow us on Twitter @ktffilms. Our film’s website is also up and running now at www.thehumanexperimentmovie.com. Thanks for spreading the word.  We are commited to raising awareness of this issue, and creating change around it.

The Human Experiment from Don Hardy on Vimeo.

 

 

 

Tighty whities and hot testes

by Craig Niederberger, M.D., F.A.C.S.

If you’re trying to conceive, do you need to change your underwear from boxers to briefs?

No doubt heat kills sperm.  The testes live outside of the abdomen for a good reason.  They need to be cool, about 4 degrees C cooler than body temperature.  Testes that don’t descend, a condition called “cryptorchidism,” have real problems making sperm.  Ovaries obviously don’t have this sensitivity to heat; they’re perfectly happy living in the abdomen.

The real question is: how much heat kills sperm?  Crossing your legs increases your scrotal temperature by about 1 degree C, and it’s difficult to imagine that every man who crosses his legs is going to have a hard time impregnating his wife.  Form fitting underwear, or briefs, raise it by a similar amount.  Putting a laptop on your lap increases your scrotal temperature by about 1.5 degrees C or so.

So you probably shouldn’t worry about wearing boxers or briefs, but stay away from cooking your testes in a jacuzzi or sauna while you’re trying to conceive.  Save that for stress reduction after the baby’s born.