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Maternal Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer: A Population-Based Case–Control Study (UK)

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Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of a range of maternal and pre-natal characteristics as potential risk factors for testicular cancer.

Methods: A population-based case–control study of testicular cancer. Mothers of participants completed a questionnaire about their reproductive and obstetric history.

Results: The risk of testicular cancer was approximately doubled for sons of mothers aged 15–19 years at conception compared with mothers with older ages at conception. Nausea or vomiting during the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of testicular cancer (odds ratio of 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.53–1.00). There was also a borderline reduction in risk in men who had been breastfed for 6 months or more (odds ratio 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.41–1.04). Men who had low birthweights (2500 g) or had been born two or more weeks early had slightly increased risks, as did men whose mothers had used oral contraception in the 12 months before their conception.

Conclusions: These findings support previous reports of increased risks in men born early or with low birthweight, but the direction of the association with maternal age is contrary to some other studies. The suggestion of a protective effect of breastfeeding requires further confirmation.

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Author notes

  1. Clair E.D. Chilvers

    Present address: DHSC Midlands and East of England, Government Office of the East Midlands, The Belgrave Centre, Stanley Place, Nottingham, NG1 5GG, UK

  2. Gwyneth Davey

    Present address: International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Primary Care, School of Community Health Sciences, Tower Building, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

    Carol A.C. Coupland

  2. Centre for Cancer Research, University of Leeds, UK

    David Forman

  3. Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK

    Clair E.D. Chilvers

  4. Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, OX2 6HE, UK

    Gwyneth Davey

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA

    Malcolm C. Pike

  6. Department of Medical Oncology, The Royal London Hospital, UK

    R. Tim D. Oliver

Authors
  1. Carol A.C. Coupland
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  2. David Forman
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  3. Clair E.D. Chilvers
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  4. Gwyneth Davey
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  5. Malcolm C. Pike
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  6. R. Tim D. Oliver
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol A.C. Coupland.

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Coupland, C.A., Forman, D., Chilvers, C.E. et al. Maternal Risk Factors for Testicular Cancer: A Population-Based Case–Control Study (UK). Cancer Causes Control 15, 277–283 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CACO.0000024257.49409.1f

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:CACO.0000024257.49409.1f

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