Feasibility and Acceptability of a Prospective Remote Pilot Study for Assessment of Airborne Environmental Exposures and Male Fertility
- 1University of Washington
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of serial biosampling and environmental exposure assessment in reproductive-aged men and compare participant experiences with in-person versus remote sample collection. Design: Prospective cohort pilot study. Subjects: Eighteen healthy men aged 21 to 44 years with no history of infertility, medical conditions or medications known to cause infertility, or prior scrotal or testicular surgery. Exposure: Indoor and personal environmental exposure monitoring using PurpleAir monitors and Fresh Air wristbands, respectively. Main Outcome Measures: Feasibility of repeated remote semen and blood collection, evaluated by participant retention and number of samples returned, and participant-reported acceptability, ease of use, discomfort, preference for at-home versus in-clinic sampling, and willingness to participate in longitudinal studies. Results: 18 participants completed the initial in-person and scheduled at-home sampling, and 16 (89%) completed subsequent remote sampling. Participants successfully collected and shipped serial capillary blood samples using homeRNA and semen samples using the Fellow Semen Analysis Kit. Participants rated both collection methods as easy to use and reported minimal discomfort with blood collection. At-home participation was preferred over in-clinic sampling, particularly for semen collection. All 16 participants completing the final survey reported willingness to participate in a similar study again. Participants were willing to provide a median of 18 semen samples (range, 2-40) and 18 blood samples (range, 5-40) over a future hypothetical study. Both home-based environmental monitoring approaches were well accepted. Conclusion: Serial remote semen and blood collection paired with environmental exposure monitoring was feasible and acceptable among reproductive-aged men. High retention, preference for at-home sampling, and willingness to provide repeated samples support this approach for larger longitudinal studies investigating environmental exposures and male reproductive health.
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BibTeX
@misc{robertson2026feasibility,
title = {{Feasibility and Acceptability of a Prospective Remote Pilot Study for Assessment of Airborne Environmental Exposures and Male Fertility}},
author = {I. H. Robertson and L. Boland and D. W. H. Chan and M. S. Jentzsch and K. Moloney and A. J. Haack and M. Eakman and F. Stefanovic and L. G. Brown and C. Tilander and C. Loftus and J. Edelson and C. H. Muller and E. Berthier and K. J. Godri Pollitt and N. A. Errett and J. F. Smith and C. J. Karr and J. Amory and A. B. Theberge and T. M. Nicholson},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.64898/2026.11.03.26367192},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.03.26367192v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Feasibility and Acceptability of a Prospective Remote Pilot Study for Assessment of Airborne Environmental Exposures and Male Fertility
AU - I. H. Robertson
AU - L. Boland
AU - D. W. H. Chan
AU - M. S. Jentzsch
AU - K. Moloney
AU - A. J. Haack
AU - M. Eakman
AU - F. Stefanovic
AU - L. G. Brown
AU - C. Tilander
AU - C. Loftus
AU - J. Edelson
AU - C. H. Muller
AU - E. Berthier
AU - K. J. Godri Pollitt
AU - N. A. Errett
AU - J. F. Smith
AU - C. J. Karr
AU - J. Amory
AU - A. B. Theberge
AU - T. M. Nicholson
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.11.03.26367192
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.11.03.26367192v1
AB - Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of serial biosampling and environmental exposure assessment in reproductive-aged men and compare participant experiences with in-person versus remote sample collection. Design: Prospective cohort pilot study. Subjects: Eighteen healthy men aged 21 to 44 years with no history of infertility, medical conditions or medications known to cause infertility, or prior scrotal or testicular surgery. Exposure: Indoor and personal environmental exposure monitoring using PurpleAir monitors and Fresh Air wristbands, respectively. Main Outcome Measures: Feasibility of repeated remote semen and blood collection, evaluated by participant retention and number of samples returned, and participant-reported acceptability, ease of use, discomfort, preference for at-home versus in-clinic sampling, and willingness to participate in longitudinal studies. Results: 18 participants completed the initial in-person and scheduled at-home sampling, and 16 (89%) completed subsequent remote sampling. Participants successfully collected and shipped serial capillary blood samples using homeRNA and semen samples using the Fellow Semen Analysis Kit. Participants rated both collection methods as easy to use and reported minimal discomfort with blood collection. At-home participation was preferred over in-clinic sampling, particularly for semen collection. All 16 participants completing the final survey reported willingness to participate in a similar study again. Participants were willing to provide a median of 18 semen samples (range, 2-40) and 18 blood samples (range, 5-40) over a future hypothetical study. Both home-based environmental monitoring approaches were well accepted. Conclusion: Serial remote semen and blood collection paired with environmental exposure monitoring was feasible and acceptable among reproductive-aged men. High retention, preference for at-home sampling, and willingness to provide repeated samples support this approach for larger longitudinal studies investigating environmental exposures and male reproductive health.
ER -