Dissertation defence (Physiology): M. D. Wiwat Rodprasert

M.D. Wiwat Rodprasert defends his dissertation in Physiology entitled “DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: Clinical Studies on Semen Quality, Cryptorchidism and Puberty” at the University of Turku on 11 August 2023 at 12.00 pm (University of Turku, Medisiina C, Osmo Järvi lecture hall, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, Turku).

Opponent: Professor Oskari Heikinheimo (University of Helsinki)
Custos: Professor Jorma Toppari (University of Turku)

Doctoral Dissertation at UTUPub: https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-951-29-9350-5

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Summary of the Doctoral Dissertation:

Reports show a decline in male reproductive health in many countries. Previous studies demonstrated that Finnish men had higher semen quality than Danish men. However, this dissertation research showed that the semen quality of young Finnish men is converging to the level of Danish men. Further research is required to understand the main causes of this finding and to study the semen quality trend in the coming years.

This dissertation research also investigated changes in semen quality from the age of 19 to 29 years. The study demonstrated that sperm production capacity appears to have reached its maximum when the man is 19 years old. However, sperm motility and the percentage of normal-appearing sperm continued to increase after the age of 19 years.

Congenital cryptorchidism is associated with an increased risk of male infertility and testicular cancer in adulthood. However, the consequence of this condition on pubertal hormone production is largely unknown. The dissertation research showed altered production of reproductive hormones during puberty especially among boys with a history of bilateral operated cryptorchidism.
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