Materials and Methods: Two groups of men volunteer workers, 27 members in each, who were constantly exposed to noisy 107- or 119-decibel environments, were studied together with one group of 27 workers living in quiet environments serving as the control. These people were referred to the Omid Khalij Fars Infertility Center in Bushehr where blood samples were taken and tested for adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, testosterone, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid hormones T3, T4, and Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and semen samples were taken and sent to the specialized laboratory of the Center.

Results: Statistical studies showed that noise stress in the 119-decibel group significantly reduced the concentrations of the testosterone, prolactin, LH, and FSH hormones and of the thyroid hormones T3, T4, and TSH, and significantly increased the concentrations of the ACTH and cortisol hormones, compared to the control group. Moreover, semen analysis indicated major changes in semen parameters, especially under 119-decibel.

Conclusion: Noise causes changes in hormones involved in the physiological process of fertility and in semen analysis parameters and, hence, has harmful effects on fertility.