Reproductive Health and Reproductive History of German Men

Katharina Pyka, University of Marburg
Hanna Seydel, University of Marburg
Ronny Westerman, University of Marburg
Walter Krause, University of Marburg
Sabine Groos, University of Marburg
Markus Thiede, University of Marburg
Martina Schmidt-Stolte, University of Marburg

In one of the first studies ever on the subject, we have reported a higher lifetime mortality rate for subfertile and sterile men without co-morbidity over all age groups in comparison to fertile men. This retrospective cohort study is to explore the association between male fertility and lifetime morbidity and mortality. Little is known from literature reviews and own research about eventual biological mechanisms behind the reported mortality differentials. Here we report on a survey of surviving subjects and proxies on lifetime morbidity and reproductive biography. Databases are general medical and semen parameters of 1,375 patients attending the andrological service at Marburg University Hospital in 1949 and later, and data from a core interview with 944 survivors and a proxy interview with 431 surviving family members. Results may indicate a protective effect of cohabitating with children (own/foster/adopted/step) for subfertile men.