Organophosphate Pesticides and Human Reproductive Health
Organophosphate Pesticides and Human Reproductive Health
This prospective cohort study assesses the effects of exposure to organophosphate (OP)
 pesticides on adverse reproductive outcomes in both male and female agricultural workers in
 China. We will enroll women and their spouses, who are attempting to become pregnant, and
 observe reproductive endpoints including (1) semen parameters (concentration, total count,
 motility, progression and morphology), (2) menstrual disorders (oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea,
 polymenorrhea, intermenstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and
 irregular menstruation); (3) alterations in hormone patterns including reduced estrogen
 excretion (REE), anovulation, abnormal luteal phase (ALP), and abnormal follicular phase
 (AFP) in women and abnormalities of LH, FSH, TSH, SHBG, inhibin-B and testosterone in men;
 (4) fecundability; and (5) pregnancy outcomes including spontaneous abortion, preterm
 delivery, low birth weight, and intrauterine growth retardation.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  it must be the first marriage for both the woman and her husband and they must
 currently live in the study area;

 -  the female's age must range from 20 to 34 years;

 -  the couple has no plan to leave the study area in which they live for the next two
 years.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  those who are currently pregnant;

 -  those who have tried unsuccessfully to get pregnant for at least 1 year;

 -  those who are current or former smokers;

 -  those who plan to move in the coming year.