The environmental and life-style changes associated with developing industry and agriculture, especially the exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (xenobiotics), are considered as causes of the increasing incidence of male reproductive system disorders. Most of the xenobiotics, which harmfully influence the male reproductive system, reveal estrogen-like (xenoestrogens) or anti-androgenic activity. Recent data have revealed physiological roles of estrogens in the male, however, there are evidences that estrogen-like substances may lead to many undesirable symptoms in the male i.e. gonadal dysgenesis, genital malformations, cryptorchidism, decreased fertility potential and testicular neoplastic changes. The number of xenoestrogens is still growing in the environment, whereas the mechanisms of their action are still not exactly known. They can be harmful not only to the present but potentially also to the next generations.
