Men's health study stepped up

Sperm samples were collected from some men

Scientists in Scotland are about to begin the next phase of one of the world's biggest ever studies into men's reproductive health.

The study was sparked by concerns over the rising numbers of men suffering testicular cancer and a fall in sperm counts.

Some 11,000 men have already been asked to take part and researchers hope to invite another 18,000 to join in the research.

The project is being co-ordinated from Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary and involves researchers from Edinburgh University.

Eighteen months ago the researchers invited men to fill in detailed medical questionnaires with the aim of helping them uncover why sperm counts may be falling.

Pam Warner has been pleased by the response

The researchers also wanted to establish if there is any link to testicular cancer rates, which are climbing.

Pam Warner, of Edinburgh University, said: "The thing that has surprised us, or pleased us, has been the really positive response from the men who have taken part.

"There have been spontaneous comments, people saying this is a really good thing to be doing, research into men's health.

"And those men who have taken part have shown a lot of commitment and have been prepared to do the further stages of the study which are even more intrusive."

Over the last 20 years testicular cancer has almost doubled - in 1979 it affected just 95 men, but by 1997 it had risen significantly.

Dr Stewart Irvine, a consultant gynaecologist, is deeply concerned about the rise.

He said: "The rate of testis cancer has roughly doubled over the last 20 years and there is no very clear reason why that's the case.

"It's the commonest case affecting young men and the reasons for this remarkable increase aren't really understood."

Dr Stewart Irvine is worried by rising cancer rates

Dr Irvine added: "There is also evidence that more boys are being born with abnormalities of their genitalia and some slightly controversial evidence that semen quality may be deteriorating."

In the first phase of the project, 300 men returned semen samples.

It is the first time it has been possible to study a random sample of the population in this way.

But a further 500 samples are now needed and the scientists hope that by extending the study they will be a step closer to understanding what factors affect men's health.