The purpose of the LIFE Study is to assess the impact of environmental factors, broadly defined to include lifestyle factors, on human reproduction and development. The LIFE Study is consistent with the mission of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development that includes conducting basic, clinical and epidemiologic research focusing on factors and processes associated with human reproduction and development thereby, ensuring the birth of healthy infants capable of reaching full adult potential unimpaired by physical or mental disabilities. This study will assess the relation between select environmental factors and human fecundity and fertility. This research proposes to recruit and retain 800 couples interested in becoming pregnant and willing to participate in a longitudinal study. Couples will be selected from geographic regions that were chosen from peer reviewed competitive proposals. Fecundity will be measured by the time required for the couples to achieve pregnancy, while fertility will be measured by the ability of couples to have a live born infant. Infertility will be recognized for couples unable to conceive within 12 months of trying. The study?s primary environmental exposures include: organochlorine pesticides; polychlorinated biphenyls; polybrominated diphenyl ethers; metals; perfluorinated compounds; cotinine; and phytoestrogens. A growing body of literature suggests these compounds may exert adverse effects on human reproduction and development; however, definitive data are lacking especially for sensitive endpoints. Couples will participate in a 25-minute baseline interview and be instructed in the use of home fertility monitors and pregnancy kits for counting the time required for pregnancy and detecting pregnancy. Blood and urine samples will be collected at baseline from both partners of the couple for measurement of the environmental exposures. Two semen samples from male partners and two saliva samples from female partners also will be requested. Semen samples will be used to globally assess male fecundity as measured primarily by sperm concentration and morphology. Saliva samples will be used for the measurement of cortisol levels as a marker of stress among female partners so that the relation between environmental factors, stress and human reproduction can be assessed. The findings will provide valuable information regarding the effect of environmental contaminants on sensitive markers of human reproduction and development, filling critical data gaps. Moreover, these environmental exposures will be analyzed in the context of other lifestyle exposures such as use of cigarettes and alcohol, consistent with the manner in which human beings are exposed.
| Louis, Germaine M B; Cooney, Maureen A; Lynch, Courtney D et al. (2008) Periconception window: advising the pregnancy-planning couple. Fertil Steril 89:e119-21 |
| Lynch, Courtney D; Jackson, Leila W; Buck Louis, Germaine M (2006) Estimation of the day-specific probabilities of conception: current state of the knowledge and the relevance for epidemiological research. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 20 Suppl 1:3-12 |
| Buck Louis, Germaine M; Lynch, Courtney D; Cooney, Maureen A (2006) Environmental influences on female fecundity and fertility. Semin Reprod Med 24:147-55 |
| Buck, Germaine M; Lynch, Courtney D; Stanford, Joseph B et al. (2004) Prospective pregnancy study designs for assessing reproductive and developmental toxicants. Environ Health Perspect 112:79-86 |
| Rockett, John C; Buck, Germaine M; Lynch, Courtney D et al. (2004) The value of home-based collection of biospecimens in reproductive epidemiology. Environ Health Perspect 112:94-104 |
