Caffeine has been shown to increase the risk of undescended testicles in male babies when the mother consumed three cups of coffee or more during pregnancy.
Numerous studies have pointed to the potentially harmful effects of caffeine use during pregnancy. Some of these effects include small birth weight and miscarriage.
Now a new study points to a link between caffeine and the risk of undescended testicles in male babies.
This study looked at over 20,000 babies in a period between 1959 and 1967 in California. There were 84 cases in which undescended testicles persisted for more than 2 years among over 7,000 sons born to the mothers participating in the study.
Compared to other groups, mothers who had sons with undescended testicles consumed more caffeine - (equivalent to about 3 cups of coffee per day.) There were no differences among the mothers who smoked and drank alcohol in this particular result.
Researchers believe that this is a significant finding since the rate of testicular cancer is increasing and that this type of cancer is more prevalent among males with cryptorchidism (undescended testicles.)
Brenda
