Advantages of a standard method for research on reproductive effects of occupation

SUMMARY A recent review ofthe literature identified several common methodological weaknesses in studies of the effects of occupational exposures on male and female reproductive processes. This paper suggests a strategy which addresses these problems, by the use of a standard method. The potential benefits include increased measurement reliability and statistical power, together with a systematic study ofexpected (background) rates, confounding effects, types ofexposure and selection effects. Particular advantages are the avoidance of designating a group as non-exposed with attendant problems of bias, and in the longer term the study of multiple or rare exposures. There is considerable public anxiety about possible occupational hazards affecting fertility and pregnancy outcome. Reports of clusters of reproductive failure are becoming increasingly common, and there are enough reports of adverse reproductive outcomes associated with exposure of experimental animals or of humans to warrant further research into this important field. Ill-founded anxiety can affec