Infertility, chemical exposure, and farming in Iowa: absence of an association.

An increased incidence of infertility and abnormal semen analysis has been described in men and experimental animals exposed to agricultural chemicals. These reports led us to review the records of 382 consecutive new male patients who had semen analyses performed at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. No significant differences in the incidence of abnormalities in either the physical examination or the semen analysis were discovered with respect to occupation or possible exposure to chemical agents.