Male reproductive health is becoming affected by environmental degradation, however, most of the studies are focusing mainly on semen parameters with a lack of attention to sexual function and functional outcomes beside semen parameters. Integrated evaluations of sexual and reproductive dysfunctions in environmentally exposed populations remain limited; this study assesses them using a clinical–functional ICF framework. A study of a cross-sectional survey was performed among 216 men aged between 25-45 years of age who are residing for at least 5 years in the different parts of the Kyrgyz Republic where environmental conditions are different. Participants were separated in four groups (an environmentally favorable control group and three exposure groups, characterized by pesticide exposure, heavy metal contamination, and radionuclide exposureSexual function was assessed using IIEF, and reproductive function through semen analysis. Men in contaminated regions showed significantly reduced erectile and orgasmic function (p < 0.05). Semen analysis indicated a significant increase in reproductive parameters in all the exposure groups, with a decrease in sperm concentration, reduction of progressive motility and velocity, reduction of morphologically normal and viable spermatozoa, and increasing proportion of immature germ cells (p < 0.05). The greatest impairments were evident in the case of men exposed to the pesticides and heavy metals. The environmental disadvantage is linked with a dual impairment of sexual function and spermatogenesis in the men of reproductive age. Application of the ICF framework highlights sexual dysfunction as an environmentally relevant indicator of reproductive health impairment.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
